Compare towns
Amherst vs Keene vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Amherst | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lebanon 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.