Compare towns
Lee vs Townsend vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
9,100Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Townsend 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 63% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| 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±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Lee and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.