Compare towns

Holderness vs Sanbornton 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

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasureHoldernessSanborntonLeeMadbury
People
Population
1,917Lowest
3,053
4,576Highest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2%
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
41.9±5.4
3% below NH
42.9±1.9Highest
about the NH average
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.1%±5.5
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+
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±4.4
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Holderness and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8
NH: 6%
Lee and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45kLowest
9% above NH
$113,750±$41k
15% above NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above 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
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$452,300±$30k
12% above NH
$480,600±$61kHighest
19% above NH
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
Lee and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,289±$198Lowest
14% below NH
—
$1,574±$759
6% above NH
Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$5,731
14% below NH
$9,661
45% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2
NH: 48.2%
29.3%±23.5
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
85.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
25 minLowest
5% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Sanbornton 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 — #42 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH —
School district Holderness School District Winnisquam Regional School District Oyster River Coop School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
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.