Compare towns
Lebanon vs Dorset 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%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Dorset | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,092Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | 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 |
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.