Compare towns
Hooksett vs Barnstead vs Goffstown 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
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Goffstown has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Barnstead | Goffstown | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,994Lowest |
18,513Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Auburn 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% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Goffstown 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% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below 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 | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Barnstead 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Barnstead School District | Goffstown School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.