Compare towns
Pelham vs Lee vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
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 | Pelham | Lee | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
4,576Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Lee and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
— | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.