Compare towns
Lee vs Manchester vs Mason
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Manchester | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
115,643Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
| Mason 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 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Mason 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Lee and Mason 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mason 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.