Compare towns
Strafford vs Rollinsford vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Rollinsford | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Highest |
2,626 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Strafford and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Rollinsford 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 |
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.