Compare towns
Durham vs Brentwood vs Brookline vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Brentwood has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Brentwood | Brookline | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
4,641Lowest |
5,736 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Brentwood and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 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+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brentwood School District | Brookline School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 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.