Compare towns
Madbury vs Brentwood vs Auburn vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Madbury | Brentwood | Auburn | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
4,641 |
6,119Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,068±$385 39% above NH |
| Brentwood and Holderness 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 |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | Auburn School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.