Compare towns

Lee vs Hanover vs Newfields 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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureLeeHanoverNewfieldsBrentwood
People
Population
4,576
11,685Highest
2,023Lowest
4,641
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+0.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
43.8±3.1
about the NH average
Newfields 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%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6
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%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
49%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54kLowest
33% above NH
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$165,509±$23k
67% above NH
Newfields and Hanover 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
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,875±$323Lowest
26% above NH
$2,217±$654
49% above NH
Hanover 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$9,713
46% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
63.9%±37.7
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Brentwood 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%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%
NH: 72.8%
73.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.3%
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1991
12 yrs newer than NH
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the NH average
20 minLowest
27% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
28 minHighest
4% above NH
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
23.1%±8.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Hanover 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 #1 of 120 in NH — #16 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newfields School District Brentwood School District
High school in town None in town Hanover High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
— —
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.