Compare towns
Auburn vs Hampton Falls vs Rye vs Chester
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%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($552k 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 | Hampton Falls | Rye | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
2,328Lowest |
5,611 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Hampton Falls 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Auburn 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hampton Falls School District | Rye School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.