Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Lee vs Windham 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
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% 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 | South Hooksett | Lee | Windham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902 |
4,576Lowest |
16,038Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kLowest 31% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.