Compare towns
Auburn vs Hopkinton vs Lee vs Deerfield
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%).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
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 | Hopkinton | Lee | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
6,037 |
4,576Lowest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn 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 |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$131,563±$10kLowest 33% above NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
— | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
| Auburn and Deerfield 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Lowest 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hopkinton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet |
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.