Compare towns
Hollis vs Rye vs Auburn vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Rye | Auburn | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,603Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,119 |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±5 14% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.