Compare towns
Lee vs Hillsborough vs Alton
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%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Hillsborough | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,980 |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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 |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Lee and Alton 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 |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Lee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Lee 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% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.