Compare towns
Chester vs Townsend vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Townsend 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 76% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | North Middlesex | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.