Compare towns
Auburn vs Lee vs South Berwick vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | South Berwick | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,576Lowest |
7,670 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lee 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% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hooksett 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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 90% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 80% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
— | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Auburn and South Berwick 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.