Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Brookline vs Lee vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Brookline | Lee | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636Lowest |
5,736 |
4,576 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | $158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% 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 | $526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 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 | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.