Compare towns
Brentwood vs Hanover vs Kingston 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
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Kingston | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
11,685Highest |
6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Hanover 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 31% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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 |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 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.