Compare towns

Auburn vs Durham vs Madbury

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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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.

MeasureAuburnDurhamMadbury
People
Population
6,119
10,681Highest
2,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
37.7±2.1
13% below NH
Auburn and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Madbury and Auburn 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%
14.3%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Madbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
52.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$112,070±$25kLowest
13% above NH
$148,365±$30k
50% above NH
Auburn and Madbury 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
$476,900±$31kLowest
18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
$1,574±$759
6% above NH
Auburn and Madbury 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Durham 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%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
25 min
5% below NH
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #44 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH —
School district Auburn School District — Oyster River Coop School District
High school 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.