Compare towns
Hooksett vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
648Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Auburn 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Nelson School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.