Compare towns
Auburn vs Keene vs Nottingham vs 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).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Keene | Nottingham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
22,939Highest |
5,357Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Nottingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Keene School District | Nottingham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.