Compare towns

Auburn vs White River Junction vs Hanover

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%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureAuburnWhite River JunctionHanover
People
Population
6,119
3,364Lowest
11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Auburn and White River Junction 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29k
80% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092
159% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn and Hanover 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 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District — Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town None in town — Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
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.