Compare towns
Lee vs Milford vs Hopkinton 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Milford | Hopkinton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,337Highest |
6,037 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Hopkinton 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn 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 33% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Milford 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Hopkinton 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Hopkinton School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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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.