Compare towns
Brookline vs Amherst vs Newfields 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
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 | Brookline | Amherst | Newfields | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
11,861Highest |
2,023Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.