Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Lee vs Brookline
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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Chester | Lee | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chester 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 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 |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 27% above 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 | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Auburn 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline 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 | 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.