Compare towns
Lee vs Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Newmarket
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 homeowners (95.8%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,601 |
22,545Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.