Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Mont Vernon vs Newfields
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).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Mont Vernon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
2,636 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Newfields 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Newfields 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Mont Vernon School District | Newfields 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 | 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.