Compare towns

Bath vs Hanover vs Lee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureBathHanoverLee
People
Population
8,815
11,685Highest
4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
Bath and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lee and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
Hanover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,661
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #31 of 133 in ME #1 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Dresden School District · Hanover School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town Morse High School Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
10.7Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 10 photos →

U.S. 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.