Compare towns
Auburn vs South Hooksett vs Brentwood 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%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | South Hooksett | Brentwood | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
5,902 |
4,641Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$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±$822 27% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
— |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | — | Brentwood School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.