Compare towns
Auburn vs Keene vs Exeter vs South Hooksett
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Keene | Exeter | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
22,939Highest |
16,151 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| South Hooksett and Keene 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 |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Exeter 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.