Compare towns

Auburn vs Hartford vs Keene

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

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.

MeasureAuburnHartfordKeene
People
Population
6,119Lowest
10,736
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
Auburn and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Auburn and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Auburn and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092Highest
159% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #44 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Hartford School District Keene School District
High school in town None in town Hartford High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.