Compare towns
Lebanon vs Keene vs Stratham vs Hartford
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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Stratham | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,939Highest |
7,754Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% 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% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Hartford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older 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 |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Keene High School | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.3Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.