Compare towns
Keene vs Surry vs Somersworth 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).
Surry has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Surry | Somersworth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,052Lowest |
12,111 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Somersworth 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% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Lebanon 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Surry 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±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Surry and Lebanon 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 |
$6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Keene 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% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Surry 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Somersworth School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Somersworth High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.