Compare towns
Brentwood vs Lee vs Brookline vs Auburn
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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Lee | Brookline | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| 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 31% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654 49% above NH |
— | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
| 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 46% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District | Auburn 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 → | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.