Compare towns
Durham vs Chester 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Durham | Chester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Chester and Durham 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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 | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.