Compare towns
Jaffrey vs Hampstead 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
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Jaffrey | Hampstead | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,448Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Auburn 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Jaffrey 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Hampstead 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 |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Hampstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±23Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Jaffrey and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 21.3 |
— | — |
| 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.