Compare towns
Auburn vs Derby vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Derby | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
4,537Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Derby 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Lee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
U.S. 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.