Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lee vs Sanbornton vs Gilmanton
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%).
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Gilmanton has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Sanbornton | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,576 |
3,053Lowest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
| Gilmanton 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% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest 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% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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% |
39.7% 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% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 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±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Lee and Gilmanton 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 |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
— | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.