Compare towns
Lee vs Hopkinton vs Madbury 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%).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Hopkinton | Madbury | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
6,037Highest |
2,203Lowest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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 |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Hopkinton 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hopkinton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— | — |
| 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.