Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Lebanon 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Lebanon | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
15,080Highest |
14,999 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Hooksett 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hooksett 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.