Compare towns
Auburn vs Keene vs Brentwood vs Manchester
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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.
| Measure | Auburn | Keene | Brentwood | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
22,939 |
4,641Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$81,007±$2k 18% below NH |
| Brentwood 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±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Manchester 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Keene School District | Brentwood School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.