Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dunbarton 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hampstead | Dunbarton | Auburn | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
3,097Lowest |
6,119 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 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 | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% 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 | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Dunbarton School District | Auburn School District | Hooksett 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 | 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.