Compare towns
Auburn vs Lee vs Chester vs Candia
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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Lee | Chester | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
4,576 |
5,300 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Candia 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— | — | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and Candia 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Auburn 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Chester School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.