Compare towns
South Hampton vs Auburn vs Brookline vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
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 | South Hampton | Auburn | Brookline | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
6,119Highest |
5,736 |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$138,487±$29kLowest 40% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
| South Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,683±$96Lowest 13% above NH |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.