Compare towns

Auburn vs Durham vs Hampton

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 20.8).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

MeasureAuburnDurhamHampton
People
Population
6,119Lowest
15,080
16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$504,300±$41kLowest
25% above NH
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
Auburn and Hampton 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Hampton 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%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Oyster River Coop School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.