Compare towns
Auburn vs Lebanon vs Lee vs South Hooksett
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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Lebanon | Lee | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
14,999Highest |
4,576Lowest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
— | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.