Compare towns
Keene vs Lebanon vs Wilder vs Swanzey
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 youngest population (median age 37.6).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Swanzey has the most kids (18% 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 | Wilder | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
14,999 |
3,087Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Swanzey and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Swanzey 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%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% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Lebanon and Swanzey 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±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Swanzey 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lebanon High School | — | 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 |
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.