Compare towns
Lee vs Keene vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Lee | Keene | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.