Compare towns
Auburn vs Ogunquit vs Chester vs South Hooksett
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 the highest household income ($153k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Ogunquit | Chester | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,300 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
— | — | $1,471±$217Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Auburn and South 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$6,801 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.