Compare towns
Auburn vs Exeter vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($457k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
16,151Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Rye 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Auburn and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% 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 | $8,092 21% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.