Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Durham vs Roxbury
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
15,080 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.2±17.7Highest about the NH average |
| Roxbury and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Roxbury and Lebanon 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Durham 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±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,787Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.