Compare towns
Lee vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs Portsmouth
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%).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Madbury | Plainfield | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,203Lowest |
2,522 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plainfield 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.