Compare towns
Auburn vs Durham vs Wilder vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
15,080Highest |
3,087Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Durham 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.