Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Dover 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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Dover | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,102 |
33,364Highest |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| 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%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Dover School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.