Compare towns
Madbury vs Hanover vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Lyme | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
8,479Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Lee 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 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+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— |
| Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.