Compare towns
Auburn vs Norwich vs Hooksett vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Norwich | Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
3,640Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Norwich School District | Hooksett School District | Chester 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 |
U.S. 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.