Compare towns

Lee vs Newfields vs Norwich 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.

MeasureLeeNewfieldsNorwichDurham
People
Population
4,576
2,023Lowest
3,640
15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich 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%
13.6%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61kLowest
44% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
Newfields and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
Newfields and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Lowest
210% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above 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%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Newfields 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 — #1 of 70 in VT #9 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Newfields School District Norwich School District 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
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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.