Compare towns
Auburn vs Needham vs Lee
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
32,459Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Needham 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 90% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Needham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lee 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Lee 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Needham | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.