Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Rye 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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Rye | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
22,545Highest |
5,611 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lee 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Rye 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.