Compare towns
Auburn vs Northwood vs Barnstead 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%).
Northwood has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Northwood | Barnstead | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,688Lowest |
4,994 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Barnstead 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Barnstead 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% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 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±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Auburn and Northwood 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 |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Auburn and Hooksett 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.