Compare towns
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
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,119Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest 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 | $131,579±$54kLowest 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 | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,683±$96Lowest 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 | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Lee 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.