Compare towns
Lee vs Chester vs Mont Vernon
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).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Chester | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
5,300Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Chester and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,104±$185 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,464Lowest 27% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District | Mont Vernon 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.