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Lee, NH


lee New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Lee
Andrew Robertson, Town Administrator
249 Calef Highway
Lee, NH 03861
Telephone (603) 659-5414 x312
Fax (603) 659-7202
E-mail townadministrator@leenh.org
Web Site www.leenh.org

Municipal Office Hours Select Board Office: Monday to Friday, 8-4; Town Administrator: Monday, 8-6, Tuesday to Thursday, 8-4:30, Friday, 8-12:30; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, 8-6, Wednesday and Friday, 8-4

County Strafford
Labor Market Area Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 1
Executive Council District District 4
State Senate District District 21
State Representative Strafford County District 11, 20

Incorporated: 1766
Origin: Established in 1766 following separation from Durham, Lee was one of the last among the 129 towns chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth. The town was named for General Charles Lee, friend and kin of the Governor, who had fought with George Washington and others during the French and Indian Wars. Lee also fought under Washington during the American Revolution, and in doing so, forfeited estates in England. Lee is the location of Wheelwright Pond, a noted scenic area, which was part of the claim issued to Reverend John Wheelwright, founder of Exeter.
Villages and Place Names: Glenmere, Lee Five Corners, South Lee, Wadleigh Falls
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,029 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Lee totaled 3,043 over 50 years, from 1,481 in 1980 to 4,524 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Lee was 4,600 residents, which ranked 84th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 230.2 persons per square mile of land area. Lee contains 20.0 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2021-2022 $5,803,848
Budget: School Appropriations, 2020-2021 $13,340,295
Zoning Ordinance 1966/20
Master Plan 2016
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Cemetery; Trust Funds; Budget Advisory; Moderator; Checklist; Library
Appointed:Planning; Conservation; Zoning; Agricultural; Heritage; Recreation; Sustainability; Lee Trails
Public Library Lee Public

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Full-time
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Wentworth-Douglass, Dover 10 miles 173
Exeter Hospital, Exeter 13 miles 99

Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Pennechuk; private wells
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Comcast; Consolidated; AT&T
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $21.72
2022 Equalization Ratio 80.6
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $17.24
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings84.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings13.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other2.2%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 2,041
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 1,663
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 63
Five or More Units in Structure 85
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 230
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 4,600 132,275
2020 4,520 130,889
2010 4,330 123,143
2000 4,169 112,676
1990 3,699 104,348
1980 2,111 85,324
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   2,107 Female:   2,417
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 153
Age 5 to 19 890
Age 20 to 34 413
Age 35 to 54 1,379
Age 55 to 64 772
Age 65 and over 917
Median Age 47.7 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 3,298
High school graduate or higher 96.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 55.2%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $52,300
Median family income $117,961
Median household income $88,750
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $64,200
Female $64,190
Individuals below the poverty level 2.4%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 2,687 2,876
Employed 2,581 2,816
Unemployed 106 60
Unemployment Rate 3.9% 2.1%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 74 117
Average Weekly Wage $616 $1,089
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 935 1,123
Average Weekly Wage $480 $737
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 1,008 1,241
Average Weekly Wage $490 $771
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 145 130
Average Weekly Wage $733 $934
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 1,153 1,370
Average Weekly Wage $521 $786

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Oyster River Cooperative (Durham, Lee, Madbury) SAU 5
Career Technology Center(s): Dover Career Technical Center
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1
Grade Levels K 1-4 9-12
Total Enrollment 327 20
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 4 Total Capacity: 236
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Market Basket Supermarket 120 1993
S & J Transportation Trucking, leasing, sales 40 1992
McDonald's Fast food restaurant 35 1995
Wendy's Fast food restaurant 35 2004
Sunny's Restaurant Restaurant 20
Dunkin' Donuts Donut shop 20
Mobil Mart Convenience store, gas 15
Wentworth Douglas Hospital Health care services 100+
Sunoco Mart Convenience store, gas 15 2002

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes 4
State Routes 125, 152, 155
Nearest Interstate, Exit Spaulding Tpk., Exit 6; I-95, Exit 5
Distance 10 miles; 15 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Pease InternationalRunway11,321 ft. asphalt/concrete
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 33 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 30 miles
Portland, ME 68 miles
Boston, MA 67 miles
New York City, NY 263 miles
Montreal, Quebec 285 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 2,341
Drove alone, car/truck/van 81.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 5.0%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 0.0%
Other Means 0.0%
Worked at home 13.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work 31.2 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 16.3%
Commuting to another NH community 78.1%
Commuting out-of-state 5.6%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Moose Mountain, Gunstock, Bretton Woods, Cranmore, Wildcat
   
Other: Lee USA Speedway; Library events; Little River Park; Pickleball Courts; Outdoor Ice Skating Rink

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 6/4/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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