Compare towns
Auburn vs Barnstead vs South Hooksett vs Manchester
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 kids (21% under 18).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% 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 | Auburn | Barnstead | South Hooksett | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,994Lowest |
5,902 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Barnstead 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%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Auburn 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%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Manchester 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Auburn and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Barnstead School District | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.