Compare towns
Hanover vs North Hampton 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | North Hampton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
4,543Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$146,458±$29kLowest 48% 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 | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,805±$106Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,893±$822 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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 | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | North Hampton School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.