Compare towns
Auburn vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Keene
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%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.