Compare towns
Hooksett vs Saco vs Windham 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).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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 | Saco | Windham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Windham 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% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Hooksett 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.