Compare towns
Brentwood vs Lee vs Strafford vs Mont Vernon
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Strafford | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Highest |
4,576 |
4,306 |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Brentwood and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Mont Vernon 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 |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Brentwood and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Mont Vernon 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.