Compare towns
Keene vs Kensington vs Lee
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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Keene | Kensington | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,009Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— |
| Kensington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Kensington 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.