Compare towns
Lee vs Kensington vs Durham 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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Kensington | Durham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,009Lowest |
15,080Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Kensington 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 19% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Kensington and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.