Compare towns

Newmarket vs Lee vs Lebanon 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

Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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.

MeasureNewmarketLeeLebanonKeene
People
Population
9,463
4,576Lowest
14,999
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Lee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$131,579±$54kHighest
33% above NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$480,600±$61kHighest
19% above NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
—
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734
31% above NH
$9,661Highest
45% above NH
$8,149
22% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
14 minLowest
48% below NH
17 min
36% below NH
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee 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 #39 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Oyster River Coop School District Lebanon School District Keene School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town Lebanon High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
11.7
12.3Highest
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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.