Compare towns
Auburn vs Brookline vs Norwich 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Brookline | Norwich | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,736 |
3,640Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | $153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | Norwich School District | Hooksett 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 | 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.