Compare towns
Lee vs Brookline vs Kittery
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest 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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% 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±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 77% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kittery and Lee 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.