Compare towns
Hanover vs Keene vs Newfields 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Keene | Newfields | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,939Highest |
2,023Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Hanover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Keene High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
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.