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.

MeasureLebanonBarreKeene
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
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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.