Compare towns
Lebanon vs Exeter vs Newfields 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.