Compare towns
Auburn vs Barnstead vs Brookline 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Barnstead | Brookline | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
4,994 |
5,736 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Barnstead School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.