Compare towns
Ashland vs Hanover 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
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Ashland | Hanover | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
11,685 |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%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 |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.