Compare towns
Auburn vs White River Junction vs Lee vs Manchester
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%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | White River Junction | Lee | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
3,364Lowest |
4,576 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38±1 about the U.S. 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Manchester 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Manchester 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Manchester 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 6 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.