Compare towns
Lee vs Strafford vs Candia 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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Strafford | Candia | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
4,306 |
4,134Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Candia and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia 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% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Candia 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 33% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| 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 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District | Candia 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.