Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Lee vs Barnstead vs Laconia
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 youngest population (median age 41.9).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 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 | Lee | Barnstead | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
4,576 |
4,994 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
— | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Barnstead 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.