Compare towns

Lee vs Hartford vs Auburn vs Madbury

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%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

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.

MeasureLeeHartfordAuburnMadbury
People
Population
4,576
10,736Highest
6,119
2,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
Auburn and Hartford 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%
18%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Hartford 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%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
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.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
$148,365±$30k
84% above U.S.
Auburn and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$480,600±$61k
44% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,574±$759
11% above U.S.
Auburn and Madbury 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.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,092
159% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hartford 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%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6
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 #34 of 70 in VT #44 of 120 in NH —
School district Oyster River Coop School District Hartford School District Auburn School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town None in town Hartford High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6
— —
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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.