Compare towns

Lee vs Eliot vs Mont Vernon 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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.

MeasureLeeEliotMont VernonAuburn
People
Population
4,576
7,146Highest
2,636Lowest
6,119
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
42.9±2.8Lowest
10% above 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%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.1%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Mont Vernon and Lee 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%
15.6%±3.1
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%
50.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$131,579±$54k
63% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
$158,036±$19kHighest
96% above U.S.
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
Mont Vernon 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.
$526,300±$39k
58% above U.S.
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,104±$185Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
Eliot and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$9,432
202% 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%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±80.8
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Mont Vernon 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
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.
1978Lowest
2 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 minLowest
15% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.6%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee and Mont Vernon 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 #4 of 120 in NH #44 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Mont Vernon School District Auburn School District
High school in town None 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.