Compare towns
Chester vs Auburn vs South 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
South Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
6,119Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
| 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 |
$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above 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 |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and South 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Highest NH: 48.2% |
| South 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% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| 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.