Compare towns
Lee vs Townsend vs Hooksett vs Durham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Hooksett | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
9,100 |
15,057 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Lee and Hooksett 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hooksett 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% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest 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% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% 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±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% 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. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.