Compare towns
Hooksett vs North Hampton vs Rye 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 affordable homes ($407k median).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | North Hampton | Rye | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Hampton School District | Rye 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 | 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.