What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).

Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lee	Ashby
People
Population	4,576Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,200±$484 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 210% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lee and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6% U.S.: 12.5%	2.6% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lee and Ashby 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	#3 of 120 in NH	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.