Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs Kittery vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Kittery has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lee | Kittery | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,576Lowest |
10,473 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kittery Public Schools | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.