Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Lee vs Madbury
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Lee | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
4,576 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Lee 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Lee and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
— | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Lebanon and Madbury 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Lebanon 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.