Lee, NH · standard
ZIP Code 03861
Strafford County, New Hampshire - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,330
- 84/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $131,579
- Median income Above-median income area
- $480,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lee pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 7%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 14%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 84
- people per sq mi
- 96%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 03861 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 03861 (Lee, NH) rose +11.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 257.5 in 2023 to 285.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 03861 covers 51.8 square miles in Lee, Strafford County, New Hampshire (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,330 residents on file, a density of 84 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 03861 skews affluent, with a median household income of $131,579 (29% above the average New Hampshire ZIP), while per-capita income is $66,562. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.6% and unemployment is 3.3%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $480,600 (19% above the average New Hampshire ZIP), while 95.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Strafford County, so 03861 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 03861
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lee, NH
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 03861.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
16 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
11 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
11 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
9 establishments
- Construction
Construction
8 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 03861, Lee, NH · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
4,330
Population
51.8
Area (sq mi)
84
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 03861?
42.9
Median Age
47.2%
Male
52.8%
Female
7.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$131,579
Median Household Income
+29% vs state ZIP avg
$66,562
Per Capita Income
2.6%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 03861 ranks among New Hampshire ZIPs
Lee, NH household income vs. every New Hampshire ZIP code
Median household income among 236 reporting New Hampshire ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$131,579 Top 17% higher than 83% of 236 New Hampshire ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Hampshire ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
1,773housing units
1,773
Total Housing Units
1,616
Occupied Units
157
Vacant Units
2.83
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$480,600
Median Home Value
+19% vs state ZIP avg
1987
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+11.0%
YoY Change (2024)
286
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+186%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 03861 have increased 11.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +186% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.5% | 178 |
| 2021 | +16.3% | 207 |
| 2022 | +13.2% | 234 |
| 2023 | +10.2% | 258 |
| 2024 | +11.0% | 286 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 92 business establishments in ZIP 03861, employing approximately 746 people with a combined annual payroll of $33,690,000.
92
Businesses
746
Employees
$33.7M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 16 | 17.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 12.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 12.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 9 | 9.8% |
| Construction | 8 | 8.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8 | 8.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 6 | 6.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 6.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 4.3% |
| Educational services | 3 | 3.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 3.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 03861 vs 03824 →
ZIP 03861 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 03820
Dover (03820)
30,039 residents
- 03833
Exeter (03833)
20,955 residents
- 03824
Durham (03824)
14,638 residents
- 03857 9,006
Newmarket (03857)
9,006 residents
- 03825 8,512
Barrington (03825)
8,512 residents
- 03042 6,341
Epping (03042)
6,341 residents
- 03290 4,731
Nottingham (03290)
4,731 residents
- 03861 4,330
Lee (03861)
4,330 residents
- 03839 3,735
Rochester (03839)
3,735 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 03861 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 03861 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 03856
Newfields (03856)
$197,885 median income
- 03823
Madbury (03823)
$148,365 median income
- 03861
Lee (03861)
$131,579 median income
- 03824
Durham (03824)
$124,056 median income
- 03290
Nottingham (03290)
$122,201 median income
- 03833
Exeter (03833)
$119,393 median income
- 03825
Barrington (03825)
$110,323 median income
- 03042
Epping (03042)
$104,220 median income
- 03857
Newmarket (03857)
$100,845 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 03861 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03824 | Durham, NH | 14,638 | 4.4 mi |
| 03857 | Newmarket, NH | 9,006 | 4.5 mi |
| 03290 | Nottingham, NH | 4,731 | 5.8 mi |
| 03823 | Madbury, NH | 1,719 | 5.0 mi |
| 03856 | Newfields, NH | 1,680 | 5.9 mi |
| 03825 | Barrington, NH | 8,512 | 6.7 mi |
| 03042 | Epping, NH | 6,341 | 5.9 mi |
| 03833 | Exeter, NH | 20,955 | 10.1 mi |
| 03839 | Rochester, NH | 3,735 | 9.9 mi |
| 03820 | Dover, NH | 30,039 | 7.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 03861, both outside NH so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (4,330 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Strafford County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 03861 in?
ZIP code 03861 (Lee) is located in Strafford County, New Hampshire. Strafford County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/strafford-nh.
What is the population of ZIP code 03861?
ZIP code 03861 in Lee, NH has a population of 4,330 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 03861?
The median household income in ZIP 03861 is $131,579, which is 72% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 03861?
The median home value in ZIP 03861 is $480,600, which is 73% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 03861?
The largest racial group in ZIP 03861 is White at 82.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 03861?
ZIP code 03861 has 92 business establishments employing approximately 746 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 03861?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 03861 are: Retail trade (16), Professional, scientific, and technical services (11), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (11). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 03861?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 03861 increased by 11.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 186%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 03861?
In ZIP code 03861, 70.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 03861?
In ZIP code 03861, approximately 95.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 4.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 03861?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 03861 is 2.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 03861's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 03861 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lee, NH ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.