Compare towns

Lee vs South Hooksett vs Townsend

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 people working from home (27.6%).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).

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.

MeasureLeeSouth HooksettTownsend
People
Population
4,576Lowest
5,902
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
35.2±3.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Lee and Townsend 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%
13.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Townsend 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
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
14.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$130,000±$15k
61% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
Lee and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$433,200±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Lee and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,471±$217Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
South Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$6,801
118% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±25Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend 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%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #3 of 120 in NH — #136 of 282 in MA
School district Oyster River Coop School District — North Middlesex
High school in town None in town — North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.1
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.