Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kittery 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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Kittery | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
10,473 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Kittery 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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 |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Kittery Public Schools | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.