Compare towns
Lee vs Hooksett vs Sidney 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
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 | Hooksett | Sidney | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
15,057 |
4,790 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sidney 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Sidney 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Durham 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 18 | 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 History | 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.