Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Auburn vs Nottingham
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Auburn | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
10,681Highest |
6,119 |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| 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%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Auburn School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school 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.