Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Wilder vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
33,364Highest |
3,087 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover 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 63% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.