Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lee vs Barnstead 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 renters (19.4% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Lee | Barnstead | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
4,994 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| 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% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above 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 |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below 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 | $6,554 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Auburn 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.