Compare towns

Lee vs Keene vs South Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureLeeKeeneSouth Berwick
People
Population
4,576Lowest
22,939Highest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and South Berwick 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 #58 of 133 in ME
School district Oyster River Coop School District Keene School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Keene High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 10 photos → 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.