What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Keene
People
Population	9,706Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Topsham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Topsham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Keene School District
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.