Compare towns
Auburn vs Dunbarton vs Northfield
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%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Dunbarton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
3,097Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Northfield 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 |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Auburn and Dunbarton 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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 NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dunbarton School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.