Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Lyme 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Lyme | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
10,681Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lyme 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Lyme 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 | 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.