Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Auburn vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Jaffrey | Auburn | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Lowest |
6,119 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Auburn and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jaffrey and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Auburn School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.