Compare towns
White River Junction vs Keene vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.
| Measure | White River Junction | Keene | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.