Compare towns
Lee vs Amherst vs Brentwood vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Lee | Amherst | Brentwood | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
11,861Highest |
4,641 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% 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 | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% 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 | $9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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 | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brentwood School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.