Compare towns
Auburn vs Hanover vs Chester 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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Chester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
11,685Highest |
5,300 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | — |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.