Compare towns
Auburn vs Hooksett vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Hooksett | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
15,057 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 90% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.