Compare towns

Auburn vs Hooksett vs Brentwood vs Lee

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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).

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.

MeasureAuburnHooksettBrentwoodLee
People
Population
6,119
15,057Highest
4,641
4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
+0.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
41.3±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
43.8±3.1
about the NH average
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
Auburn and Brentwood 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%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±4.1
NH: 18.2%
21.9%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Lee and Brentwood 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%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Lee and Brentwood 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%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
49%
NH: 40.6%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
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
$117,962±$11kLowest
19% above NH
$165,509±$23kHighest
67% above NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
Brentwood 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±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$1,661±$206Lowest
11% above NH
$2,217±$654Highest
49% above NH
—
Brentwood 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
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$9,713Highest
46% above NH
$9,661
45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
63.9%±37.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3
NH: 48.2%
Brentwood 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%
3.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Lowest
5 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
28 min
4% above NH
28 min
about the NH average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and Auburn 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 #30 of 120 in NH #16 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Hooksett School District Brentwood School District Oyster River Coop 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 6 photos → 10 photos →

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.