Compare towns
Lee vs South 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%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
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 | South Berwick | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
3,381Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Lowest 6% 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%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and South 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% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and South Berwick 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% |
47.2%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%±2.7Lowest 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. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% 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. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,702±$76Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and South Berwick 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. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.