Compare towns
Hooksett vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Rye | Townsend | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,100 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% 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. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| 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±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Rye 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% |
6.9% 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% |
85.5% 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. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 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 |
29 min 9% 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% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
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| 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.