Compare towns
Auburn vs Lyme vs Brentwood 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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Brentwood | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,641 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Brentwood 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Brentwood 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lyme School District | Brentwood School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.