Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ira vs Plainfield 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).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ira | Plainfield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
381Lowest |
1,314 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Ira and Plainfield 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% 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%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% 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. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hooksett 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 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 |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.