Compare towns
Lee vs Windham vs Lebanon 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 people working from home (27.6%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 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 | Windham | Lebanon | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,038Highest |
14,999 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Lebanon 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Lebanon 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.