Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dunbarton 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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Dunbarton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,097Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 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±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% 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 | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dunbarton School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.