What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Auburn	Hancock
People
Population	6,119Highest	1,791Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH
	Hancock 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%	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Auburn and Hancock 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%	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6%	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Auburn and Hancock 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	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH	$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH
	Auburn and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,092Highest 21% above NH	$6,884Lowest 3% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2%	32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hancock 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%	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#44 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Auburn School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.