Compare towns
Madbury vs East Kingston vs South Hampton 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).
East Kingston has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | East Kingston | South Hampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,311 |
984Lowest |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| East Kingston and South Hampton 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and South Hampton 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% |
27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| East Kingston and Lee 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and East Kingston 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 |
$138,194±$38k 40% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$575,500±$56k 43% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| South Hampton and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
— |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,604 44% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and South Hampton 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and East Kingston 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | East Kingston School District | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 9 photos → | 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.