Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Durham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
10,681Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.