Compare towns
Auburn vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
7,861 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Auburn 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
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.