Compare towns
Lee vs Newington vs Barrington vs Durham
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
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.
| Measure | Lee | Newington | Barrington | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
939Lowest |
9,489 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Lee 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newington and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Barrington 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
23 min 13% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | — | #65 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Barrington 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 | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.