Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Berwick vs Auburn
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 people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
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 | Plainfield | Berwick | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
8,175Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Berwick 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | 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 |
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.