Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Durham vs Nottingham
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Durham | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,080 |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Lee 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% 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 | — | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.