Compare towns
Auburn vs Strafford vs Hooksett vs Lee
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).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Hooksett | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
4,306Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest 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 |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
| 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Auburn 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%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Strafford 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% |
50.6% 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% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Auburn and Lee 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| 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 | $8,092 21% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| 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% |
38.3%±53.3 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest 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 |
1987 8 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 |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 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.