Compare towns

Auburn vs Brentwood vs Exeter

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%).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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.

MeasureAuburnBrentwoodExeter
People
Population
6,119
4,641Lowest
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
43.8±3.1Lowest
about the NH average
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above NH
Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Brentwood and Auburn 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%
21.8%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Exeter and Brentwood 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%
49%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
Auburn and Exeter 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
$165,509±$23kHighest
67% above NH
$110,346±$13kLowest
11% above NH
Brentwood 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±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
$456,600±$21kLowest
13% above NH
Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$2,217±$654Highest
49% above NH
$1,856±$223Lowest
24% above NH
Brentwood and Auburn 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
$9,713Highest
46% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
63.9%±37.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
Brentwood and Exeter 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%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
28 min
4% above NH
25 minLowest
7% below NH
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
23.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Brentwood 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 #16 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Brentwood School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town None in town None in town Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 6 photos → 59 photos →

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.