Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Chester vs South 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Chester | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
10,681Highest |
5,300Lowest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
35.2±3.6 19% 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and South 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% 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 |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and South 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Chester School District | — |
| High school 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.