Compare towns
Lee vs Townsend vs Durham vs Nottingham
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Townsend | Durham | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
9,100 |
15,080Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.8±6.7 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.