Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Manchester vs Candia
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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Durham | Manchester | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
15,080 |
115,643Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia 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% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and Manchester 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Durham 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 6 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.