Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Pembroke vs Brookline 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
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Hopkinton | Pembroke | Brookline | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037 |
7,438Highest |
5,736Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% 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 |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Pembroke School District | Brookline School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.