Compare towns
Auburn vs Bow vs Dunbarton vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | Auburn | Bow | Dunbarton | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,335Highest |
3,097Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.