Compare towns
Chester vs Candia vs Strafford vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Chester | Candia | Strafford | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,134Lowest |
4,306 |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Candia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 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+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% 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 | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% 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 | — | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Candia School District | Strafford School District | Auburn 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.