Compare towns
Northwood vs Lee vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Northwood | Lee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,688Highest |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Lee and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.