Compare towns
Dorset vs Keene vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Dorset | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.