Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Candia
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
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 | Brookline | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
5,736Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% 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 | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% 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 |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Brookline and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.