Compare towns
Auburn vs Lee vs Newfields vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
— | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.