Compare towns

Berwick vs Lee vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureBerwickLeeBrookline
People
Population
8,175Highest
4,576Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
Brookline and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$9,661
210% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Lowest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #101 of 133 in ME #3 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Oyster River Coop School District Brookline 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

U.S. 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.