Compare towns
Allenstown vs Northwood vs Hooksett vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
Northwood has the most homeowners (89%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Allenstown | Northwood | Hooksett | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,743 |
4,688Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Northwood and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Northwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397 14% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Pembroke 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 | — | #24 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.