Compare towns
Auburn vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Pelham | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
14,449Highest |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham and South 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| 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 21% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.