Compare towns
Brentwood vs Brookline vs Eliot vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Brentwood | Brookline | Eliot | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
5,736 |
7,146Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $165,509±$23k 105% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 59% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 57% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Lowest 38% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713 211% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Brookline School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.