Compare towns
Brookline vs Windham vs Lee 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
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
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 | Windham | Lee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
16,038Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Brookline 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest 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±$4k 73% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— | $1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.