Compare towns
Madbury vs Newmarket vs Windham 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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Newmarket | Windham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
9,463 |
16,038Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Windham 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Windham 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±$31k 18% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734Lowest 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Windham 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.