Compare towns
Lee vs North Hampton vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Lee | North Hampton | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
4,543Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Lee and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | North Hampton School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.