Compare towns
Lee vs Eliot vs Dover 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%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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 | Eliot | Dover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,146 |
33,364Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above 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±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% 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% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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.