Compare towns
Keene vs Plymouth vs Lebanon 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Lebanon | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,601 |
14,999 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Lebanon 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Lebanon 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Lebanon 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.