Compare towns
Lee vs Madbury vs Hartford 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Madbury | Hartford | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,203Lowest |
10,736Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above 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% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 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% |
14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% 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. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.