Compare towns
Amherst vs Lee vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Amherst | Lee | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
4,576Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
— | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.