Compare towns
Chester vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($552k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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.
| Measure | Chester | Hanover | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
11,685Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Auburn 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kLowest 44% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,893±$822Lowest 27% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.