Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Auburn | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,119 |
5,876Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,811±$283 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Auburn School District | — |
| High school 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.