Compare towns
Acton vs Auburn vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Acton | Auburn | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
6,119 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Acton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.