Compare towns
Lee vs Northwood vs New Boston 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Mont Vernon has the most expensive homes ($526k median).
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 | Northwood | New Boston | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
4,688 |
6,165Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$129,375±$23kLowest 31% above NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,201±$372Highest 19% below NH |
$1,193±$111 20% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | New Boston School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.