Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Manchester vs New Ipswich 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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% 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 | Manchester | New Ipswich | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902 |
115,643Highest |
5,310Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Manchester 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% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Manchester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 about the NH average |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 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.