Compare towns

Lee vs Eliot vs Bow vs Brentwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Brentwood has the most expensive homes ($528k median).

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.

MeasureLeeEliotBowBrentwood
People
Population
4,576Lowest
7,146
8,335Highest
4,641
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
43.8±3.1
13% above U.S.
Eliot 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
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±6.8
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow 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
63% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$165,509±$23k
105% above U.S.
Bow 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
44% above U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$528,100±$75kHighest
59% above U.S.
Brentwood and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,217±$654Highest
57% above U.S.
Brentwood and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661
210% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$9,713Highest
211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
63.9%±37.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brentwood and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1995Highest
15 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #19 of 133 in ME #26 of 120 in NH #16 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Bow School District Brentwood School District
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
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U.S. 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.