Compare towns
Lee vs Harvard 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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,927Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$54kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Harvard 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. |
$8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Harvard | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 10 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.