Compare towns
Brookline vs Middleborough vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Middleborough | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736 |
24,505Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Middleborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Middleborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% 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 | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Lowest 21% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Middleborough 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #170 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Middleborough | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middleborough High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.