Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Lee vs Eaton
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Eaton has the most affordable homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Lee | Eaton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
4,576Highest |
501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
59.6±14 38% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.6%±5Lowest 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%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
41.3%±15.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Eaton and Center Harbor 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
51.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$377,300±$62kLowest 6% below NH |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Center Harbor 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.4%±12.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Eaton 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 | — | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school 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.