Compare towns
Lee vs Norwich vs Auburn vs Mont Vernon
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Norwich | Auburn | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
3,640 |
6,119Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8 10% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Mont Vernon 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Norwich 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$54kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| 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±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Norwich 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. |
$8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #44 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Auburn School District | Mont Vernon 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 |
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.