Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Ashland 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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Dover | Ashland | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
33,364Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Lee and Ashland 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lee 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below 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 | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Dover and Madbury 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Ashland 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.