Compare towns
Auburn vs Exeter vs Hollis
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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
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 | Exeter | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hollis and Auburn 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Auburn 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.