Compare towns
Kingston vs Lee vs Brookline vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Kingston | Lee | Brookline | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 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+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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 | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
— | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Brookline and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.