Compare towns
Lee vs Wells 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 kids (21.9% under 18).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Wells | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
11,713Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Wells and Auburn 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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| 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.