Compare towns
Lee vs Braintree vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Braintree | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
1,026Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.