Compare towns
Lee vs Newfields vs Topsham
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Newfields | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 63% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 44% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Topsham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.