Compare towns
Auburn vs Dorset vs Brookline
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dorset | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 90% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Brookline 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 |
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.