Compare towns
Hooksett vs Auburn vs Plaistow vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Auburn | Plaistow | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,119Lowest |
7,861 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Auburn School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.