Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Exeter 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 20.8).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Durham | Exeter | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
15,080 |
16,151Highest |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 59 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.