Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lee vs Nottingham vs Windham
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 the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Nottingham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,576Lowest |
5,357 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
— | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.