Compare towns
Auburn vs Hooksett vs Townsend vs Windham
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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
15,057 |
9,100 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.