Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs Keene 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee | Keene | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
4,576 |
22,939Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 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+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
— | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.