Compare towns
Lee vs Auburn vs Exeter vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lee | Auburn | Exeter | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
16,151Highest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | 51 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.