Compare towns
Keene vs Sullivan vs Dover 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Sullivan | Dover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below 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%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover 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% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest 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% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | 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 |
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.