Compare towns

Keene vs Lebanon vs Amherst vs Concord

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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).

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.

MeasureKeeneLebanonAmherstConcord
People
Population
22,939
14,999
11,861Lowest
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%
NH: +4.6%
+3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
Lebanon and Amherst 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
$8,149
22% above NH
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$7,227
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2
NH: 48.2%
Keene and Concord 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%
7%
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
36% below NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
23 min
14% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH #89 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District Lebanon School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Keene High School Lebanon High School Souhegan Coop High School Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
11.7
10.4Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.