Compare towns
Madbury vs Newington vs Dorchester 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Newington | Dorchester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
939 |
410Lowest |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
— | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Dorchester and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Newington 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 |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
— | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Madbury and Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
— | — |
| Newington 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 |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lee 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington 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.