Compare towns
Newmarket vs Lee vs Ashland vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Lee | Ashland | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
4,576 |
2,183Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lee and Ashland 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Ashland 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.