Compare towns
Brookline vs New Durham 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%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | New Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
2,748Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.5±7.5Highest 7% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| New Durham 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% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| New Durham and Lee 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% |
34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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 | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$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 | $544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,417±$116Lowest 5% below NH |
— |
| Brookline and New Durham 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 |
$5,774Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and New Durham 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% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
94%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1Lowest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.