Compare towns
North Hampton vs Kensington vs Hollis 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
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Kensington | Hollis | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
2,009Lowest |
8,603Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hollis 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kLowest 48% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Hollis and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
| Hollis 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±$106 21% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Hollis and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Auburn 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Kensington School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.