Compare towns
Hooksett vs Reading vs West Windsor 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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
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 | Reading | West Windsor | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
699Lowest |
1,171 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6 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±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hooksett 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.