Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Cornish vs Auburn
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Cornish | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
10,681Highest |
1,816Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Cornish 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Lee 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% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% 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 |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Durham 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 |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Cornish 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Cornish School District | Auburn 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.