Compare towns
Lee vs Center Harbor vs Newmarket
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 most people working from home (27.6%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Center Harbor | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
955Lowest |
9,463Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Lee 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% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee 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 |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Lee and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.