Compare towns
Hampstead 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
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Hampstead | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Hampstead and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | 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 |
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.