Compare towns

Hooksett vs Marblehead vs Hingham 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).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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.

MeasureHooksettMarbleheadHinghamAuburn
People
Population
15,057
20,413
24,283Highest
6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
49.1±2Highest
26% above U.S.
48.4±2.4
24% above U.S.
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Hingham and Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hingham and Marblehead 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
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
76.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
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±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$178,390±$15k
121% above U.S.
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$943,900±$31k
184% above U.S.
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
241% above U.S.
$600,300±$29k
80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$1,764±$147
25% above U.S.
$2,465±$603Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
Hingham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$8,309
166% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,092
159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
60.3%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hingham and Marblehead 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%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
25% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.1%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Marblehead and Hingham 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 #47 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #44 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Marblehead Hingham Auburn School District
High school in town None in town Marblehead High Hingham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
12.9Highest
—
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.