Compare towns
Madbury vs Bedford vs Lee
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).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
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 | Bedford | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
23,746Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Lee 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% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Bedford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
— |
| Bedford 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 |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.