Compare towns

Hooksett vs Barre vs Auburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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.

MeasureHooksettBarreAuburn
People
Population
15,057Highest
8,412
6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.2±6.6
8% above U.S.
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Auburn and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barre and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
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
46% above U.S.
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$153,253±$6kHighest
90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$600,300±$29kHighest
80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,893±$822Highest
34% above U.S.
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
110% above U.S.
$5,192Lowest
66% above U.S.
$8,092Highest
159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT #44 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Auburn School District
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.