Compare towns
Lee vs New Boston vs Strafford
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%).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | New Boston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
6,165Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| New Boston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 min 33% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.