Compare towns
Newmarket vs Auburn vs Brookline vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Newmarket | Auburn | Brookline | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Auburn and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| 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.