Compare towns
Lee vs South Hampton vs Lyme vs Auburn
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 affordable homes ($481k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Lyme | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | — | — | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | 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 |
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.