Compare towns
Worcester vs South Hooksett 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
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
Auburn has the oldest population (median age 44.8).
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 | Worcester | South Hooksett | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
5,902Lowest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±3.6 10% below U.S. |
44.8±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Auburn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$116,711±$10k 45% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$400,000±$16k 20% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,467±$155Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Worcester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,289 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | — | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.