Compare towns
Lee vs Norwich vs Mont Vernon vs Brookline
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mont Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Norwich | Mont Vernon | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
3,640 |
2,636Lowest |
5,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19k 96% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Norwich 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. |
$9,432Lowest 202% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #4 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Mont Vernon School District | Brookline 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 |
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.