Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Strafford 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%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Madbury has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Brookline | Strafford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
5,736Highest |
4,306 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Strafford and Lee 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% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Brookline and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Brookline and Strafford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Strafford 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 | 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.