Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Hopkinton vs Candia
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%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Chester | Hopkinton | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,300 |
6,037 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Hopkinton 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% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn 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 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
| 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 49% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
| 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 27% above NH |
— | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Hopkinton School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.