Compare towns
Lee vs Hooksett vs Chester 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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Hooksett | Chester | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Chester 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Lee 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Chester 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Chester 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.