Compare towns
Newmarket vs Kensington vs Lee vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Newmarket | Kensington | Lee | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
2,009Lowest |
4,576 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Kensington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.