Compare towns

Auburn vs Dunbarton vs Townsend

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%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).

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.

MeasureAuburnDunbartonTownsend
People
Population
6,119
3,097Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Townsend 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
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn and Townsend 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
90% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Auburn and Townsend 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.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Townsend 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%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #44 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA
School district Auburn School District Dunbarton School District North Middlesex
High school in town None in town None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.1
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.