Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lee vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hampstead | Lee | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Hampstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Sandown 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.