Compare towns
White River Junction vs Keene vs Portsmouth vs Bellows Falls
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 homeowners (55.1%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Portsmouth | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
22,939Highest |
22,545 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.