Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Kingston 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).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.
| Measure | Lee | Exeter | Kingston | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,275 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Exeter 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% 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 |
$7,906Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.