Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Dover 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Dover | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
14,999 |
33,364Highest |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
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.