Compare towns
Lee vs Stratham vs Brentwood 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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Stratham | Brentwood | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
7,754Highest |
4,641 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Brentwood 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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 |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Brentwood 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Brentwood 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 | 6 photos → | 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.