Compare towns
White River Junction vs Keene vs Durham vs Wilder
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 the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
22,939Highest |
15,080 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.