Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lee vs Mont Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Barnstead | Lee | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.