Compare towns
Auburn vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Brookline
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Sidney | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,790 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Sidney 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 90% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.