Compare towns
Lee vs South Berwick vs Brentwood vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | South Berwick | Brentwood | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,670 |
4,641 |
9,463Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±3.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newmarket 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±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #16 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Brentwood School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.