Compare towns
Auburn vs Dover vs Hooksett vs Brentwood
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Hooksett | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.