Lempster

Sullivan Countyβ€’Upper Valleyβ€’Population: 1,118

Overview

Lempster is a small, rural town in Sullivan County near Lake Sunapee, with forested hills and wind turbines that have become a notable feature of the local landscape. The town has no significant commercial development.

Lempster's proximity to Sunapee and Newport provides access to lake recreation and basic services, while the surrounding hills offer hiking and hunting. The town's low density keeps it quiet.

Housing in Lempster remains affordable, drawing families and retirees who want rural, Sunapee-region living without premium prices.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Rural character
  • β€’Affordable
  • β€’Near Sunapee
  • β€’Quiet

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’No downtown
  • β€’Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Lempster.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$15.63
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$16.32
Equalization ratio: 104%
Municipal
$3.11
Local School
$9.38
State Education
$0.96
County
$2.18

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$15.63$16.32$3.11$9.38$0.96$2.18

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$3,908$326
$350,000$5,471$456
$500,000$7,815$651
$750,000$11,723$977
$1,000,000$15,630$1,303

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $15.63 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
76.3Β°F
Winter Avg High
32.4Β°F
Annual Snowfall
64.9 in
Annual Rainfall
47.1 in
Sunny Days/Year
260
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
106 mi
~141 min drive
Manchester
56 mi
~83 min drive
Portsmouth
98 mi
~133 min drive
Concord
43 mi
~73 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
33/100
Trail Miles
4.9
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
4
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:4 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:4

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$89,000
Per Capita Income
$33,914
Median Family Income
$98,500

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$202,700
Homeownership Rate
94.62%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
3.25%
In Labor Force
431

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.14%
Total with Degree
84

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
43.2 years
Avg Household Size
3.03 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Lempster with Other Towns

See how Lempster stacks up against other NH communities.