Compare towns
Madbury vs Barnstead vs Lee vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Madbury | Barnstead | Lee | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,994 |
4,576 |
9,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Lee and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
— | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Barrington 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.