Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lee vs Plainfield vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | South Hampton | Lee | Plainfield | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
4,576Highest |
2,522 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Newington 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.