Compare towns
Auburn vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Lee
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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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 | Lyme | Newfields | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | None yet | None yet | 10 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.