Compare towns

Canterbury vs Lee vs Cornish

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canterbury has the most renters (6.3% rent).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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.

MeasureCanterburyLeeCornish
People
Population
2,353
4,576Highest
1,816Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.6%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.6±3.8
12% above NH
42.9±1.9Lowest
about the NH average
54±8.3Highest
25% above NH
Cornish and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±4.4
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±3.3
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.3%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
Cornish and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.3%
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Canterbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$129,333±$37k
31% above NH
$131,579±$54kHighest
33% above NH
$91,821±$2kLowest
7% below NH
Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$443,700±$21k
10% above NH
$480,600±$61kHighest
19% above NH
$296,000±$69kLowest
26% below NH
Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,136±$233Highest
43% above NH
—
$1,221±$227Lowest
18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,421
11% above NH
$9,661Highest
45% above NH
$5,796Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.7%±48.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40.5%±38.1
NH: 48.2%
Canterbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
94.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1980Lowest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
24 minLowest
9% below NH
Work from home
21.6%±7.4
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Canterbury 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 — #3 of 120 in NH —
School district Shaker Regional School District Oyster River Coop School District Cornish 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.