Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Lee vs Bow vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rollinsford has the most renters (21.8% rent).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Rollinsford | Lee | Bow | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626Lowest |
4,576 |
8,335Highest |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394 21% above NH |
— | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Chichester and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.