Compare towns
Lee vs Barrington vs Newmarket 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
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Barrington | Newmarket | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
9,489Highest |
9,463 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$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 | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% 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 | — | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Barrington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Barrington 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.