Compare towns
Auburn vs Hooksett vs Stratham vs Candia
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 renters (19.4% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Stratham | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
15,057Highest |
7,754 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Auburn 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%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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±$206 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Candia 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 | 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.