Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Amherst vs Dover
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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lebanon | Amherst | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
14,999 |
11,861Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% 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% |
16.9%±1.8 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% 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% |
6.2%±1.2 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% 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 |
1976 3 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 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.