Compare towns
Auburn vs Franconia 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%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Franconia | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,060Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Franconia 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% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% 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 |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Auburn and Franconia 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 |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
— |
| Auburn and Franconia 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 |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest 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 |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lafayette Regional 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 → |
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.