Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Keene
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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,545 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.