Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Amherst vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sanbornton | Amherst | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
11,861Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
— |
| Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.