Compare towns
Amherst vs Auburn vs Exeter vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lee has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Amherst | Auburn | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
6,119 |
16,151Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Auburn and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 10 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.