Compare towns
Lebanon vs Keene vs South Berwick
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,939Highest |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and South Berwick 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Keene 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Keene High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.