Compare towns
Brentwood vs Deerfield vs Lee vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 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 | Brentwood | Deerfield | Lee | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
4,932Highest |
4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,563±$10kLowest 33% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Brentwood and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
— | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Brentwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713 46% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme 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 | 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.