Compare towns
Benson vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Benson | Hooksett | Pelham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below 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 | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.