Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Auburn vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Auburn | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,102 |
6,119Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Auburn School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.