Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs Middlesex
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 highest household income ($132k).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,576 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Middlesex 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%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% 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% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% 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±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Durham and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lee 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Lee 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.