Compare towns

Auburn vs Strafford vs 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).

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.

MeasureAuburnStraffordHooksett
People
Population
6,119
4,306Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the NH average
46.3±2.1Highest
7% above NH
41.3±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
Strafford 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%
17.6%±3.5
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Auburn and Strafford 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%
19.4%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Strafford and 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%
40.2%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$122,105±$22k
23% above NH
$117,962±$11kLowest
19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$427,900±$29k
6% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,635±$246Lowest
10% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
Auburn and 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
$6,086Lowest
9% below NH
$6,554
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
76.3%±30.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
Strafford and 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%
8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Lowest
5 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
27 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.9%±5
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Strafford 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 #73 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Strafford School District Hooksett 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 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.