Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Manchester 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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Manchester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,300 |
115,643Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% 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 |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| 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% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% 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±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— | $1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Manchester 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.