Compare towns
Madbury vs Lee vs Newmarket vs Dover
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lee | Newmarket | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
4,576 |
9,463 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Dover 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% 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±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
— | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Dover 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.