Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Hampstead
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Portsmouth | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hampstead 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Hampstead 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.