Compare towns

Auburn vs Brookline vs Hampton vs Hooksett

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%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).

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.

MeasureAuburnBrooklineHamptonHooksett
People
Population
6,119
5,736Lowest
16,426Highest
15,057
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$171,046±$4kHighest
73% above NH
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Auburn and Hampton 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
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
$1,628±$94Lowest
9% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
Brookline 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,813
about the NH average
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
26 minLowest
3% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Brookline 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 #23 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Brookline School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Hooksett School District
High school in town None in town None in town Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.