Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett vs Lee vs Auburn
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).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Hooksett | Lee | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9 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%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 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 | $142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% 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 | — | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 27% 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 | $8,464 27% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Lee 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.