Compare towns
Deerfield vs Auburn vs Windham 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
Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Deerfield | Auburn | Windham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
6,119 |
16,038Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
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 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kLowest 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 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 | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Auburn School District | Windham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.