Compare towns
Amherst vs Auburn vs Brookline vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Milford has the most renters (40.6% rent).
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 | Amherst | Auburn | Brookline | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Amherst and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.