Compare towns
Hollis vs Brookline 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
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Brookline | Lee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,603Highest |
5,736 |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 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 | $168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above 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 |
$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 | 31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Lee 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.