Compare towns
Lebanon 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
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Lee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% 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 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±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+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.