Compare towns

Auburn vs Durham vs Hanover vs Newington

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).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Newington has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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.

MeasureAuburnDurhamHanoverNewington
People
Population
6,119
15,080Highest
11,685
939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
28.7±5.1
34% below NH
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
Newington 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%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
Auburn and Newington 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%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
Newington and Hanover 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%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
62.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6k
55% above NH
$124,056±$21kLowest
25% above NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$145,833±$46k
47% above NH
Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29k
49% above NH
$504,300±$41kLowest
25% above NH
$824,900±$61k
105% above NH
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$2,253±$217
51% above NH
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
Newington and Hanover 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
23 min
13% below NH
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Hanover 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 #1 of 120 in NH —
School district Auburn School District Oyster River Coop School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newington School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
—
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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.