Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
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 | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| 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±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.