Compare towns
Lee vs Lebanon vs Dover 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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lebanon | Dover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
14,999 |
33,364Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Lee and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above 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 | — | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.