Compare towns
Auburn vs Chester vs South Hooksett vs Candia
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 most homeowners (97.7%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Chester | South Hooksett | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,300 |
5,902 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% 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 |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
| 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 |
— | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and South 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| South Hooksett and Auburn 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Chester 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 | — | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Chester School District | — | Candia School District |
| High school 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 |
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.