Compare towns
Keene vs Lancaster vs Sullivan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Lancaster | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,216 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kHighest 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$236,500±$29k 41% below NH |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.