Compare towns
Lee vs South Hampton vs Candia
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%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | South Hampton | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
984Lowest |
4,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lee 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia 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% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Lee 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
| South 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Candia 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and South 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 | — | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Candia 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.