Compare towns
Auburn vs Acton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
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 | Auburn | Acton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
24,155Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
— |
| Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Acton-Boxborough | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.