Compare towns
Brentwood vs Eliot vs Exeter 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 highest household income ($166k).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Eliot | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
7,146 |
16,151Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Brentwood and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.