Compare towns

Auburn vs Durham vs Enfield 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

MeasureAuburnDurhamEnfieldLee
People
Population
6,119
15,080Highest
4,475Lowest
4,576
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
-2.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
58.3±5.4Highest
35% above NH
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.7%±7.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8
NH: 20.1%
Enfield 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%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
43%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
2.7%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$95,474±$19kLowest
4% below NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
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
49% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$390,800±$71kLowest
about the NH average
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$1,181±$563Lowest
21% below NH
—
Auburn and Durham 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,203Lowest
7% below NH
$9,661
45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3
NH: 48.2%
Durham 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%
15.1%
NH: 7.2%
16.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
24 min
11% below NH
28 min
about the NH average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
11%±5.7Lowest
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 #9 of 120 in NH #5 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Oyster River Coop School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → None yet 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.