Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most homeowners (55.1%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.