Compare towns
Auburn vs Hampton vs South Hooksett vs Chester
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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | South Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
16,426Highest |
5,902 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— |
| Auburn and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and South Hooksett 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.