Compare towns
Lee vs Nottingham vs Auburn vs Brentwood
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%).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Nottingham | Auburn | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
5,357 |
6,119Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Nottingham 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 |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Brentwood 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District | Auburn School District | Brentwood 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 | 6 photos → |
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.