Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Plainville 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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Plainville has the most renters (29.6% rent).
Auburn has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Epping | Plainville | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430 |
9,943 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Plainville 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Auburn 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Plainville 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Plainville | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.