Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Lee vs New Hampton
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
4,576Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and New Hampton 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Lee and New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% 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 |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $749±$433 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and New Hampton 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school 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.