Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Plainfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Lebanon 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield 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 | 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.