Compare towns
Lee vs Amherst vs Brookline vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lee | Amherst | Brookline | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
11,861 |
5,736 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 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+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 51 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.