Compare towns
Lee vs Somersworth vs Hanover 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%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Somersworth | Hanover | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
12,111Highest |
11,685 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Lee and Somersworth 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hanover 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.