Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Hartford vs Keene
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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Plainfield | Hartford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,522Lowest |
10,736 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Hartford 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Hartford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.