Compare towns

Lebanon vs Newfields vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureLebanonNewfieldsHanoverKeene
People
Population
14,999
2,023Lowest
11,685
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Lebanon and Hanover 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%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Hanover and Newfields 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% 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%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
Hanover 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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
48% below NH
26 minHighest
4% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
17 min
36% below NH
Work from home
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Newfields 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 — #1 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Newfields School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Keene School District
High school in town Lebanon High School None in town Hanover High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
—
10.7Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 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.