Compare towns
Auburn vs Norwich 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%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Norwich | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
3,640Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline 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% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn 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. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above 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 | $8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwich and Auburn 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% |
2.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Norwich School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.