Compare towns
Lebanon vs White River Junction vs Waterbury 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Waterbury has the most homeowners (70.6%).
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 | White River Junction | Waterbury | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
3,364Lowest |
5,405 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Waterbury 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Waterbury 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Waterbury 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | — | #20 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | — | 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.