Compare towns
North Hampton vs Lee vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | North Hampton | Lee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
4,576 |
5,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| North Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| North Hampton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.