Compare towns
Lee vs South Berwick vs Auburn vs Madbury
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 affordable homes ($428k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,670Highest |
6,119 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below 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% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury 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% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6 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% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Madbury 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% 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 | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.