Compare towns
Dover vs Kensington vs Lee vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Kensington | Lee | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
4,576 |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kensington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.