Compare towns
Lee vs Hanover vs Rye vs Durham
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Rye | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
11,685 |
5,611 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rye 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Hanover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
20 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.