Compare towns
Durham vs Auburn vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Auburn | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681 |
6,119Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.