Compare towns
Nottingham vs Durham vs Lee vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Nottingham | Durham | Lee | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
10,681Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Lee and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 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+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% 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 | $457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
— | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.