Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Townsend 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).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Pelham | Townsend | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
14,449 |
9,100 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Pelham 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 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 |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | North Middlesex | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.