Compare towns
Auburn vs Windham vs Candia 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%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Windham | Candia | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
16,038Highest |
4,134Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Candia 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 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±$6k 55% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Windham School District | Candia School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.