Compare towns
Auburn vs Keene vs White River Junction vs Chester
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 affordable homes ($253k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | White River Junction | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
22,939Highest |
3,364Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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 | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Keene School District | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.