The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 03861 sells for about $650,000, or $315 per square foot.
Prices are up +5.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 32 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,500 a month.
ZIP 03861 — Lee
The housing market in 03861 remains tight with low inventory and steady price appreciation, reflecting strong demand for rural-suburban living. Buyers are active, though the limited supply of homes for sale continues to exert upward pressure on prices.
This ZIP is ideal for families and professionals seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle with high-quality schools while remaining within a reasonable commuting distance to major regional employers.
Median prices moved up 5.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 32 days on market with 4.5 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.3% · poverty 2.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 03861, Strafford County NH
Lee is a rural community with very low reported crime rates, significantly lower than the regional averages found in larger nearby cities like Manchester or Dover.
Schools serving the area are generally well-regarded, with the Oyster River Cooperative School District providing high-performing educational opportunities for local students.
The area faces standard New England climate risks, including winter storm impacts and potential localized flooding near the Lamprey River, but is not considered a high-risk wildfire zone.
Economic momentum is driven by its proximity to the University of New Hampshire and the regional employment hubs of Portsmouth and Manchester, maintaining steady residential demand.
Property taxes are assessed at the town level in Lee, NH, based on local municipal and school district budget requirements; there is no state-level income tax on wages in New Hampshire.
Residents primarily commute by car, with easy access to Route 125 and Route 4 providing connections to the employment centers of Durham, Portsmouth, and Manchester.
The area features extensive outdoor access including the Lamprey River for paddling, local hiking trails, and proximity to the White Mountain National Forest and Seacoast beaches.
The rental market is tight with limited inventory, largely driven by demand from university students and professionals working in the nearby Seacoast region.
The local economy is anchored by the University of New Hampshire in nearby Durham and the broader Seacoast region's mix of technology, healthcare, and education sectors.
Development is primarily focused on low-density residential growth and preservation of rural character, with limited large-scale commercial projects.
Parcels are subject to the Oyster River Cooperative School District tax levy and local municipal assessments.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional risks associated with severe winter weather and wind events.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Water Country Water Park4.112.9 mi
- Hilltop Fun Center4.410.7 mi
- Bowl-O-Rama Family Fun Center4.412.9 mi
- Portsmouth Escape Room4.812.7 mi
- Take Flight Aerial Adventure Course4.815.6 mi
- Cider Hill Farm4.716.8 mi
- The Brook4.215.8 mi
- Deerfield Fair4.511.8 mi
- Wentworth By The Sea4.414.9 mi
- New England Dragway4.86.1 mi
- Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery4.79 mi
- Water Country Water Park4.112.9 mi
- Pawtuckaway State Park4.78.2 mi
- Regal Fox Run4.310.8 mi
- Children's Museum of New Hampshire4.79.3 mi
- Strawbery Banke Museum4.713.4 mi
- Seacoast Science Center4.615.8 mi
- Children's Museum of New Hampshire4.79.3 mi
- Albacore Park4.712.6 mi
- Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse4.315.6 mi
- Pawtuckaway State Park4.78.2 mi
- Stratham Hill Park4.77.6 mi
- Pine Acres Campground3.89.8 mi
- Kingston State Park4.412.7 mi
- Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Discovery Center4.97 mi
- Great Bay Marine Inc4.59 mi
- Safe Harbor Wentworth By The Sea4.615 mi
- Breakfast Hill Golf Club4.412 mi
- Pease Golf Course4.410.6 mi
- The Oaks4.312.5 mi
- Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club4.211.9 mi
- Nippo Lake Golf Club4.49.1 mi
- Wentworth Greenhouses4.910.7 mi
- Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn4.69.3 mi
- McKinnon's Market & Super Butcher Shop Portsmouth, N.H.4.612.7 mi
- Kohl's4.110.7 mi
- Marshalls4.211.5 mi
- Manchester-Boston Regional Airport4.624.6 mi
- Portsmouth International Airport4.610.1 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Provides recreational opportunities for kayaking and fishing.
Local community park with sports fields and walking trails.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.