Compare towns
Chester vs Auburn 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
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Chester | Auburn | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
6,119Highest |
5,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,811±$283Lowest 21% 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 | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Highest 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 | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Auburn School District | — |
| High school 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.