Compare towns
Auburn vs Henniker vs Keene 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 the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Keene | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
6,197 |
22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% 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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
— |
| Auburn and Keene 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 |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Henniker 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Henniker School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| 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.