Compare towns
Brookline vs Stratham vs Auburn 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
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Brookline | Stratham | Auburn | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
7,754Highest |
6,119 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
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 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
— |
| Stratham and Brookline 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn 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.