Compare towns
Barrington vs Brookline 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
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Barrington | Brookline | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
5,736 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Lowest 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Brookline 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Brookline 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 | 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.