Compare towns
Keene vs Milford vs Newfields vs Lebanon
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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Milford | Newfields | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
16,337 |
2,023Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Newfields 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Milford School District | Newfields School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Milford High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.