Compare towns
Auburn vs Sunapee vs Chester
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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Sunapee | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
3,416Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Auburn 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Chester 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Sunapee School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.