Compare towns
Brentwood vs Hanover vs Brookline vs Exeter
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 most homeowners (96%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
11,685 |
5,736 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
| Brookline and Hanover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 59 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.