Compare towns
Lee vs Madbury vs Plainfield vs South Hampton
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 the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
2,203 |
2,522 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 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% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Madbury 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% 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 |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | South Hampton 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.