Compare towns
Lee vs Auburn vs Strafford vs Deerfield
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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Deerfield has the most renters (8.7% rent).
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 | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
6,119Highest |
4,306Lowest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% 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 |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,369 11% 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% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 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 |
34 min 28% 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% |
22.4%±6.3 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 | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Strafford School District | Deerfield 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.