Compare towns
Lee vs Barnstead vs Auburn 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).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Barnstead | Auburn | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
4,994 |
6,119Highest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest 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 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Barnstead 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 |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% 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 |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
| Auburn and Deerfield 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 |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,369 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Auburn 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.