Compare towns

Ellsworth 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

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureEllsworthHooksettPelham
People
Population
8,657Lowest
15,057Highest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4Highest
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Ellsworth and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ellsworth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2Lowest
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
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% 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
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,425±$88
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
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Ellsworth Public Schools Hooksett School District Pelham School District
High school in town Ellsworth High School None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
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10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 5 photos → 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.