Compare towns
Concord vs Keene vs Lee vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Concord | Keene | Lee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
22,939 |
4,576Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.