Compare towns
Lebanon vs Barre vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Keene has the most homeowners (55.1%).
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 | Lebanon | Barre | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
8,412Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Barre and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lebanon and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 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+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 30% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Spaulding Union High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

