Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Lebanon vs Hopkinton
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lebanon | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
10,681 |
14,999Highest |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hopkinton 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Lebanon School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lebanon High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.