Compare towns
Brookline vs Lee vs Newton
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Lee | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest 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 | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Brookline and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $1,683±$96Lowest 13% above NH |
| Brookline and Newton 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,124Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional 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.