Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Auburn vs Deerfield
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).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
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 | Exeter | Auburn | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,119 |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Auburn School District | Deerfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 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.