Compare towns
Auburn vs Newington vs South Hampton 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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Newington | South Hampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
939Lowest |
984 |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Newington 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,889±$489Lowest 27% above NH |
— |
| Newington and Auburn 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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 NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 |
| School district | Auburn School District | Newington School District | South Hampton 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.