Compare towns
Auburn vs Hooksett vs Manchester vs Windham
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Manchester | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
15,057 |
115,643Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.1±2.9 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Windham 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.