Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth vs Hampton Falls 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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Portsmouth | Hampton Falls | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
22,545Highest |
2,328Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Hampton Falls 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above 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% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Hampton Falls School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.