Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Lee vs White River Junction
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 affordable homes ($253k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
4,576 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lee 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 24% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | 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 |
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.