Compare towns
Auburn vs Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Chester
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
2,522Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Chester 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| 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±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Plainfield 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 |
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.