Compare towns
Keene vs Norwich vs Dover vs Lebanon
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).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Norwich | Dover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,640Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Norwich School District | Dover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.