Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs North Hampton
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
22,545Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lee 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | North Hampton 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.