Compare towns
Northfield vs Dunbarton 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
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Northfield | Dunbarton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
3,097Lowest |
6,119Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 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 | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Dunbarton School District | Auburn 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.