Compare towns
Auburn vs Stratham vs North Hampton vs South 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Stratham | North Hampton | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
7,754Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Stratham 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 |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton 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 | 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.