Compare towns
Ashland vs Keene vs Lee
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 affordable homes ($227k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Ashland | Keene | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
22,939Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Ashland 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lee 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Ashland 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.