Compare towns
Auburn vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Pelham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
14,449Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| 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%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Pelham 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% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
— |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Pelham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.