Compare towns
Auburn vs Berwick vs Mapleton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Auburn | Berwick | Mapleton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,175Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Berwick 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.