Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs Durham 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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Chester | Durham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,300Lowest |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Chester and Auburn 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% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Auburn and Hooksett 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 |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hooksett 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Durham 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.