Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Norwich vs Mont Vernon
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Norwich | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
10,681Highest |
3,640 |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Norwich 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Norwich 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,432Lowest 202% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Norwich 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 |
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.