Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Lee vs Barrington vs Plainfield
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 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 | Barrington | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053 |
4,576 |
9,489Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Lee and Sanbornton 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%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Barrington 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 |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above 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±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
— | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Barrington and Plainfield 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Lee 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.