Compare towns
Somersworth vs Durham 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
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Somersworth | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
15,080Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
— |
| Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.