Compare towns
Lee vs Windham vs Lyme 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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Madbury has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
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 | Windham | Lyme | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
16,038Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$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% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.