Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Conway 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
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 | Brookline | Conway | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
10,141 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Conway 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 min 23% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Conway School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennett High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Lowest |
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.