Compare towns
Lee vs Lyme vs Franconia 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 homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Lyme | Franconia | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Franconia 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional 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.