Compare towns
Lee vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Lebanon | Durham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
14,999Highest |
10,681 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lee 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.