Compare towns
Canaan vs Keene vs Lebanon vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Boscawen has the most kids (18.1% 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 | Canaan | Keene | Lebanon | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$286,500±$23k 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
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.