Compare towns
Newmarket vs Lee vs Durham vs Newfields
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 the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Newmarket | Lee | Durham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
4,576 |
10,681Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields 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±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
— | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.