Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Keene 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 20.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Keene | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.