Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Durham | Hampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,426Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lee 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below 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 | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Durham 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.