Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Canaan 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% 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 | Canaan | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
14,999 |
3,811Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest 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 |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Canaan 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Canaan 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$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 | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Dover 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% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%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 |
1975 4 yrs 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 |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7 |
10.3Lowest |
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.