Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hanover vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Barnstead | Hanover | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
11,685Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.