The Town FilesLee, New Hampshire
Town in Strafford County · population 4,520 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $480,600
- Household income
- $131,579
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.9
Lee is a town of 4,520 people in Strafford County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $480,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of New Hampshire towns, more upscale than 96% of New Hampshire towns, more seaside character than 96% of New Hampshire towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Hampshire
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Hampshire
- #11 in The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in New Hampshire
- #16 in 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #23 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #25 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How Lee ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lee is worth $480,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $131,579, which is more affordable than 56% of New Hampshire towns. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lee | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $480,600 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | — | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $131,579 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Lee
| People | Lee | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.6% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 27.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 92.5% |
Weather in Lee
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 3, 1976 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Strafford County since 1996
Strafford County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4371: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Strafford County
Strafford County had 46,517 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Lee itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Lee
1 public school with 331 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mast Way School | K-4 | 331 | 12.3 |
Towns near Lee
- Durham, NH4.4 mi · 11,147 people · home $498,000
- Durham, NH4.5 mi · 15,490 people · home $504,300
- Newmarket, NH4.5 mi · 5,797 people · home $423,500
- Newmarket, NH4.5 mi · 9,430 people · home $455,000
- Epping, NH6.2 mi · 7,125 people · home $436,900
- Nottingham, NH6.3 mi · 5,229 people · home $457,500
- Barrington, NH6.8 mi · 9,326 people · home $399,100
- Epping, NH7.4 mi · 2,693 people · home $384,800
Lee questions
Is Lee, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lee scores better for retirees than 75% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 33%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Lee?
The median owner-occupied home in Lee is valued at $480,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,579, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lee?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Lee get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 3, 1976. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)