Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs South Berwick
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Keene School District | Lebanon School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.