Compare towns
Lee vs Bridgewater 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%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Bridgewater | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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 | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% 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 | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$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 | — | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Bridgewater 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 |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Bridgewater 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% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.