Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Newington 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 the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Plymouth | Newington | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,601 |
939Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Newington 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Newington 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 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Newington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newington School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 12.3 |
| 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.