Compare towns
Keene vs Lee vs Exeter 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Lee | Exeter | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
16,151 |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
— | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Swanzey 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Exeter 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.