Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Strafford vs Lee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Strafford | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,636Lowest |
4,306 |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford 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%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Lee 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 |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 41% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Strafford School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.