Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Durham 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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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.
| Measure | Lee | Plainfield | Durham | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
10,681Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Brentwood and Lee 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904Lowest 19% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Durham 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | — | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.