Compare towns
Lee vs Auburn vs Strafford vs Brookline
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
6,119Highest |
4,306Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest 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+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 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 | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% 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 | $9,661 45% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below 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%±27 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Strafford School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.