Compare towns
Auburn vs Brentwood vs Lee vs Plainfield
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%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Brentwood | Lee | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
4,641 |
4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 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+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Brentwood 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±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brentwood School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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 | 6 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet |
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.