Compare towns
North Hampton vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% 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±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| 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±$106Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Nashoba | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.