Compare towns
Auburn vs Hanover vs Windham 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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Windham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,479 |
16,038Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lee 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Lee 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hanover 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.