Compare towns
Auburn vs Hanover vs Chester vs Hopkinton
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Chester | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
11,685Highest |
5,300Lowest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
| Chester and Hopkinton 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$137,477±$21kLowest 39% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$506,900±$54kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Chester School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.