Compare towns
Lee vs Bethlehem vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Bethlehem | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,537Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Bethlehem 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 NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampton 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 33% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Lee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.