Compare towns
North Hampton vs Auburn vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | North Hampton | Auburn | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
6,119Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| North Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| North Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Auburn School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.