Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lee vs Newton
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Lee | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Lee and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
— | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newton 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.