Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Plymouth 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 oldest population (median age 45).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hopkinton | Plymouth | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037Lowest |
6,601Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Auburn 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% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and Plymouth 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.