Compare towns
Lee vs Mont Vernon vs Auburn vs Strafford
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%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Mont Vernon | Auburn | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
6,119Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Mont Vernon 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 |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Auburn School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.