Compare towns
Auburn vs Stratham vs North Hampton vs Brookline
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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Stratham | North Hampton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
7,754Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| North Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.