Compare towns
Brookline vs Lee vs Hopkinton vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Brookline | Lee | Hopkinton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
4,576Lowest |
6,037 |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hopkinton School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.