Compare towns
Auburn vs Madbury vs Hopkinton 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%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Madbury | Hopkinton | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
2,203Lowest |
6,037 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hopkinton 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Madbury 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Hopkinton and South Hooksett 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hopkinton 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 | — | #28 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hopkinton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.