Compare towns
Brooks vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 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 | Brooks | Hooksett | Pelham | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% 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 | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$691 19% 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 | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Waldo 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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.