Compare towns
Auburn vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Wakefield | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119 |
5,405Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr 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% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Wakefield 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.