Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
8,479Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%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 |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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% |
89.2%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% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% 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 | $9,661 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% |
72%±17.4Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%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 |
1974Lowest 5 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 |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 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.