Compare towns
Auburn vs Lee vs Strafford vs Manchester
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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Strafford | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,576 |
4,306Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Strafford and Auburn 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Manchester 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 |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Manchester 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.