Compare towns
Auburn vs Milton vs Manchester
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%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Milton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,538Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Milton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Milton 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% |
16.1%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Milton and Manchester 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 NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Auburn and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$5,922 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Milton School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.