Compare towns
Lee vs Eliot vs Hanover 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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Eliot | Hanover | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,146 |
8,479Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Auburn 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
23 min 15% 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% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | 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 |
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.