Compare towns
Lee vs Northwood vs New Boston 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%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Madbury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Northwood | New Boston | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
4,688 |
6,165Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lee and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and New Boston 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Northwood 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 |
$129,375±$23kLowest 31% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| New Boston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Northwood 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Northwood 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and New Boston 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | New Boston School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.