Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lee vs Auburn vs Allenstown
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 renters (19.4% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
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 | Lee | Auburn | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,119 |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
| Auburn and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Allenstown 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Auburn School District | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.