Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Norwich 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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Norwich | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 51 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.