Compare towns

Auburn vs Derry vs Ogunquit vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has the highest household income ($153k).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).

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.

MeasureAuburnDerryOgunquitChester
People
Population
6,119
21,339Highest
1,379Lowest
5,300
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
41±3Lowest
5% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
47.2±3.8
21% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Derry and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
$91,673±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$142,212±$19k
76% above U.S.
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±$29k
80% above U.S.
$391,200±$23kLowest
18% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$552,300±$42k
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,549±$137Lowest
10% above U.S.
— —
Auburn and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092
159% above U.S.
$7,278
133% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,464Highest
171% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
19%±72.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Auburn 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 #60 of 120 in NH — #90 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District — — Chester School District
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.