Compare towns
Lee vs Lebanon vs Plymouth 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,601 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest 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 |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% 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% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% 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 | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%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% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer 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 |
18 min 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.