Compare towns
Strafford vs Auburn vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Auburn | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
6,119Highest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 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 | $122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% 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 | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Auburn School District | Brookline 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.