Compare towns
Lee vs Stoddard vs Nelson
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 expensive homes ($481k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Stoddard | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
1,072 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Lee and Nelson 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Nelson 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Lee 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 | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Stoddard School District | Nelson 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.