Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Madbury vs Brookline
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Madbury has the most affordable homes ($477k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Madbury | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,300 |
2,203Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brookline 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% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Madbury 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 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 |
$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% 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±$822 27% above NH |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% 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 |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.