Compare towns
Auburn vs Mapleton vs Lee vs South 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Mapleton | Lee | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,576 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
| Auburn and South Hooksett 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and South 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.