Compare towns
Dover vs Sunapee 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
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Dover | Sunapee | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,416Lowest |
22,939 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Dover and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Sunapee School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.9 |
12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.