Compare towns
Lee vs Plymouth vs Keene vs Mont Vernon
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Lee | Plymouth | Keene | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
6,601 |
22,939Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Keene and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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 NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 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 |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.