Compare towns

Lebanon vs Auburn vs Nottingham vs Keene

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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.

MeasureLebanonAuburnNottinghamKeene
People
Population
14,999
6,119
5,357Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.3%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
38.8±6.7
10% below NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.4%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
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+
57.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
55.3%
NH: 40.6%
40.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$122,201±$20k
23% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$457,500±$26k
14% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$2,068±$1kHighest
39% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Nottingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149Highest
22% above NH
$8,092
21% above NH
$7,319
10% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
NH: 7.2%
2.5%
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
48% below NH
28 min
4% above NH
34 minHighest
27% above NH
17 min
36% below NH
Work from home
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.2%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn 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 #29 of 120 in NH #44 of 120 in NH #15 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Auburn School District Nottingham School District Keene School District
High school in town Lebanon High School None in town None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
— —
12.3Highest
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.