Compare towns

Auburn vs Waitsfield vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).

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.

MeasureAuburnWaitsfieldHooksett
People
Population
6,119
1,918Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
44.3±5.3Highest
14% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.8%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waitsfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
90% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
$422,400±$92k
27% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
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
159% above U.S.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn and Waitsfield 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 — #30 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 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

U.S. 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.