Compare towns
Auburn vs Plymouth vs South Hooksett vs Manchester
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 youngest population (median age 24.6).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
6,601 |
5,902Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Auburn and Manchester 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Manchester 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%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% |
6.4%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$81,007±$2k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Auburn and Manchester 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest 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 |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 min 10% below 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% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.