Compare towns
Lee vs Plymouth vs Eliot 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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Eliot | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
6,601 |
7,146Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lee 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% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%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% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% 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. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Auburn 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. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Auburn 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 | 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.