Compare towns
Chelmsford vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelmsford has the most expensive homes ($594k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Chelmsford | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,446Highest |
15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chelmsford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,629±$8kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $593,700±$17kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Chelmsford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,062±$151Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,047 158% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chelmsford | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Chelmsford High | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.