Compare towns
Lee vs Hampton Falls vs Eliot 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Eliot | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,328Lowest |
7,146Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Lee 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,852±$475Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above 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 | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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.