Compare towns
Lee vs Newington vs North Hampton 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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Newington | North Hampton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
939Lowest |
4,543 |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and North Hampton 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Newington and Auburn 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | North Hampton School District | Auburn 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.