Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sheldon vs Bakersfield 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 renters (19.4% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sheldon | Bakersfield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,267 |
1,109Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Bakersfield 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bakersfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bakersfield 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,462±$18k 3% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$271,300±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,200±$327Lowest 15% 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,823 23% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 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 |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Bakersfield 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.