Compare towns
Auburn vs Hampton Falls vs Chester 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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hampton Falls | Chester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
2,328Lowest |
5,300 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
— | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Auburn and Hampton Falls 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hampton Falls School District | Chester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.