Compare towns
Madbury vs Hillsborough vs Pembroke 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%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Hillsborough | Pembroke | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
5,980 |
7,438Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Pembroke 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% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Pembroke 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 |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% 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 |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| 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±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
— |
| Madbury and Pembroke 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Pembroke 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Pembroke 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 | — | #97 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.