Compare towns
Auburn vs Brookline vs South 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%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,736 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| South Hampton 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$152,500±$44kLowest 54% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South 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±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,889±$489Lowest 27% 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 | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.