Compare towns
Lee vs Hooksett vs Chester 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
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Lee | Hooksett | Chester | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Chester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest 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 | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.