Compare towns
Lee vs Plymouth 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Auburn | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,601Highest |
6,119 |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below 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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below 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 | — | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below 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% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Auburn School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.