Compare towns
Lee vs Bedford vs Brentwood
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).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Bedford | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
23,746Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lee 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 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% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Bedford 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 |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Bedford 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 |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Bedford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,099±$274Lowest 41% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Bedford 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 |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 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.