Compare towns
Lee vs Hillsborough vs Plymouth 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%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Newmarket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hillsborough | Plymouth | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,980 |
6,601 |
9,463Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.