Compare towns
Auburn vs Pepperell 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%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Pepperell | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
11,663Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above 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%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Pepperell 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Pepperell 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 90% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.