Compare towns
Auburn vs Plymouth vs South Hooksett vs Candia
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%).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | South Hooksett | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
6,601Highest |
5,902 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
| Auburn and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| South Hooksett and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.