Compare towns
Lee vs South Berwick 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 people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% 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 | South Berwick | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,670Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and South Berwick 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Brookline 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.