Compare towns
Barnard vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Barnard | Hooksett | Pelham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Pelham 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.