Compare towns
Auburn vs Lee vs South Hampton vs Chester
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Lee | South Hampton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
4,576 |
984Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lee 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Auburn and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 27% above NH |
— | $1,889±$489Lowest 27% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and South Hampton 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Chester 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.