Compare towns
Lee vs Brewer 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).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Brewer | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
9,652Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Auburn 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. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$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. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brewer 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. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brewer Public Schools | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.