Compare towns
Lee vs Lyme vs Portsmouth 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 homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
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 | Lyme | Portsmouth | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
22,545Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Lee 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.