Compare towns
Lee vs Eliot vs Newfields vs Durham
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 most kids (21.9% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Eliot | Newfields | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,146 |
2,023Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.