Lee is a Durham bedroom community with large lots, hiking
Just outside Durham, Lee is a sprawling bedroom community with a short 5-minute commute to the University of New Hampshire. The town has a few residential streets that edge toward suburban and a small collection of chain stores and restaurants, but much of it is rural, dotted with farms and threaded through with the Lamprey River, brooks and a large, popular pond. Durham isn’t the only nearby community, either; it’s 10 miles to Dover and 18 miles to Portsmouth. “It’s a great area to raise families because you’ve got the land … close proximity to multiple cities, the beaches, the hiking,” says Lee Ann Parks, an associate broker with eXp Realty who has lived in the area for 46 years and has sold homes here for 22 years. Lee’s school district, the Oyster River Cooperative School District, is also highly sought after, Parks says.
Most homes have acreage and start at $500,000
Lee’s colonials, Cape Cods and new traditionals often sit on lots of an acre or more. “There are some subdivisions in there, but you definitely have more land, so you can have farm animals and horses,” Parks says. A handful of small two-bedroom Capes can start at about $240,000 when they need extensive renovations, but prices can climb to $400,000 when they’re updated. Most houses in the town, though, cost between about $500,000 and $1 million. Some homes with extensive acreage list for over $1 million, but it’s rare. “It’s a sought-after market, so things go under contract really quickly when they go on the market,” Parks says. On average, homes here spend 40 days on the market, a little faster than the national average of 49 days.
Oyster River public schools and nearby University of New Hampshire
The Oyster River Cooperative School District serves students from Lee, Madbury and Dorham, earning a C-plus from Niche. Children in Lee attend Mast Way School from kindergarten through fourth grade before moving on to Oyster River Middle School. Both schools have A-minuses. They then attend Oyster River High School, which has a C and offers extracurriculars like drama, debate and literary clubs.
The University of New Hampshire, which is less than 4 miles from the center of Lee, has a close relationship with Oyster River schools. Parks says it’s a relationship that draws many parents to the area. Many locals also study or work at the university, which offers 200 programs in over 100 fields of study.
Taking major roads to nearby towns and hospitals
U.S. Route 4, state Route 125 and state Route 155 crisscross through Lee, making it easy to travel in nearly any direction. Parks says it’s an easy 40-minute drive to beaches like Wallis Sands Beach, and the mountains are about 45 minutes away. Wentworth-Douglass Express Care, an urgent care center, is right in Lee. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital itself is about 12 miles away in Dover.
A mix of chain and local restaurants, farms with fresh produce
Lee has a collection of shops, a gym and fast-food chains like McDonalds and Dunkin’ where Route 4 and Route 125 meet. It also has a small collection of local spots, including Sunny’s Restaurant, a local diner known for its breakfast menu, and Coffee Craving, a local food truck that sells coffee and fresh donuts. Flag Hill Distillery & Winery is a popular spot for tastings and weddings. Market Basket has groceries right in town, but many people choose to get fresh produce and eggs from local farms and farm stands. “That’s another great benefit, is having access to all that fresh food from the farmers, and there’s a lot of apple orchards as well,” Parks says. For more shopping and dining, residents drive a few miles away to Durham, Dover or Portsmouth.
Protected nature for hiking and kayaking, public parks and gardens
Lee Town Forest is just one of the protected areas full of hiking trails, and there are multiple campgrounds scattered through the town. The Lamprey River and Wheelwright Pond provide ample places to kayak, canoe or fish, and Parks says that people even head out for ice fishing during the winter. Little River Park has athletic fields and courts for local teams. Bedrock Gardens is a 30-acre public garden full of plants and sculptures, making it a popular spot to walk around and explore. Lee residents also have access to some of the University of New Hampshire’s amenities, including the library and outdoor pool.
Haunted Halloween trails, Sunflower Festival and car races
It may be surprising to some, but Lee’s farms are the center of activity for the town, hosting frequent events. DeMeritt Hill Farm is best known for hosting Haunted Overload during Halloween, which is a wooded trail where actors in full costume and makeup do their best to scare visitors. Parks says that in past years, the farm has donated a portion of proceeds to a local Humane Society. Coppal House Farm is also known for its events and attractions, including its Sunflower Festival. They have different vendors there selling crafts and maple ice cream, things like that,” Parks says, adding that there’s also a corn maze and horse-drawn wagon rides. “You can go and walk through the sunflowers and they have photo ops. It’s a lot of fun, I’ve gone a couple of times with my friends.” Lee USA Speedway is also located in town, hosting car races and monster truck events.
Potential flooding along Lee’s river and brooks
The Lamprey River, the brooks branching off of it and Lee’s ponds all have a chance of flooding. Usually, these floods don’t go too far beyond their original boundaries, and but homes along them can be impacted. Occasional hurricanes or tropical storms pass over this part of New Hampshire, bringing a risk of high winds as well as potential flooding.
Written By
Christina Norwood
