Compare towns
Lee vs Brentwood vs Strafford vs Newmarket
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Brentwood | Strafford | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
4,641 |
4,306Lowest |
9,463Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Brentwood and Lee 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±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Brentwood and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 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 | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | Strafford School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.