Compare towns
Hooksett vs Rye vs Manchester 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Rye | Manchester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
5,611Lowest |
115,643Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Rye School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.