Compare towns
Lebanon vs Keene vs Amherst vs Wilder
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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Keene | Amherst | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,939Highest |
11,861 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Wilder 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Keene School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Keene High School | Souhegan Coop High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.