Compare towns
Keene vs Lee vs Durham vs Sullivan
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lee | Durham | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,576 |
10,681 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Sullivan 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Sullivan 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Keene and Durham 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.