Compare towns
Auburn vs Stratham vs South Hooksett 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Stratham | South Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
7,754Highest |
5,902 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% 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±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$1,471±$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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 | 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.