Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Lee vs Plymouth
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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
6,601Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest 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 |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below 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±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— | — | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Auburn and Plymouth 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 |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below 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% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Plymouth 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.