Compare towns
Windham vs Auburn vs Hooksett vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stratham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Auburn | Hooksett | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
6,119Lowest |
15,057 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Auburn and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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 | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
| Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Auburn School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.