Compare towns
Kingston vs Lee vs Auburn vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k 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 | Kingston | Lee | Auburn | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
| Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 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 | $105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Auburn and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Auburn and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.