Compare towns
Auburn vs Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Auburn | Barnstead | Hooksett | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,994 |
15,057Highest |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Brentwood 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 | 6 photos → |
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.