Compare towns
Auburn vs Holderness vs Dover 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%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Holderness | Dover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
1,917Lowest |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 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%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Holderness and Auburn 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%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 |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Holderness School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.