Compare towns
Auburn vs Hollis 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%).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k 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 | Hollis | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,603Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Hollis and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Chester 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Chester 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% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Hollis 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.