Compare towns
Hanover vs Auburn vs Suncook
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Hanover | Auburn | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
6,119 |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Suncook and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below 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 | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below 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 |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Auburn School District | — |
| High school 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.