Compare towns
Lee vs Enfield vs Portsmouth 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Enfield | Portsmouth | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
4,475Lowest |
22,545Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield 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% NH: 40.6% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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 |
$95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| 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 |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth 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 |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth 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% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.