Compare towns
Auburn vs North Hampton vs Brookline 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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | North Hampton | Brookline | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,543Lowest |
5,736 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 55% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| North Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | North Hampton School District | Brookline School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.