Compare towns
Auburn vs Lebanon vs Brookline 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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Brookline | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
14,999Highest |
5,736 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| 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±$822 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Auburn 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 |
$8,149 22% 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% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District | Brookline School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.