Compare towns
Lee vs Newington vs Brookline 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Mont Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Newington | Brookline | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
939Lowest |
5,736Highest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Brookline and Newington 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Brookline School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None 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.