Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Newfields vs Swanzey
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 youngest population (median age 37.6).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Newfields | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
2,023Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Swanzey 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.