Compare towns
Strafford vs Auburn vs Mont Vernon
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%).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
6,119Highest |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Mont Vernon 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Mont Vernon 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 |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Auburn and Strafford 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 |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Mont Vernon 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Auburn School District | Mont Vernon 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.