Compare towns
North Hampton vs Canton vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | North Hampton | Canton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
24,748Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Canton 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 81% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kLowest 78% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| 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±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kLowest 80% above U.S. |
| Canton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Canton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.