Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Norwich 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 63% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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 44% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich 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 |
U.S. 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.