What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Auburn
People
Population	1,101Lowest	6,119Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Auburn and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Auburn and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S.	$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S.
	Auburn and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$8,092Highest 159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	27.6%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Auburn and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Auburn and Wayne 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
School district	RSU 38	Auburn School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.