Compare towns
Madbury vs Newfields vs Lee vs Durham
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newfields | Lee | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,023Lowest |
4,576 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Madbury 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 51 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.