Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Barnstead 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

Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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.

MeasureSanborntonBarnsteadAuburn
People
Population
3,053Lowest
4,994
6,119Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4Lowest
3% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Sanbornton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
55.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$41k
15% above NH
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
Auburn and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30k
12% above NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198Lowest
14% below NH
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,731Lowest
14% below NH
$6,003
10% below NH
$8,092Highest
21% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
2.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1984Lowest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
28 minLowest
4% above NH
Work from home
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Sanbornton 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 #42 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH #44 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Barnstead 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.