Compare towns
Auburn vs Brookline vs Plaistow
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%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Brookline | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Auburn 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% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,664±$187Lowest 12% 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 | $8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.