Compare towns
Buxton vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
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 | Buxton | Hooksett | Pelham | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% 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 | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #104 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.