Compare towns
Auburn vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Middlesex | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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%±2.6Lowest 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$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. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.