Compare towns
Auburn vs Williston vs Hooksett vs Lee
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 the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Williston | Hooksett | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
10,144 |
15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
| 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 80% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Auburn and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 159% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.