Compare towns
Auburn vs Keene vs Hanover
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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Keene | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
22,939Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Auburn and Keene 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Keene 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%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.