Compare towns
Lee vs Mont Vernon vs Portsmouth vs Brookline
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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Portsmouth | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
22,545Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon 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 33% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Portsmouth 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Portsmouth School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
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| 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.