Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Plainfield 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
15,080Highest |
2,522Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 51 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.