Compare towns
Lee vs Sanbornton vs Cornish
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Sanbornton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
3,053 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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 |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Cornish 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 |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.