Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Wilder 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
Goffstown has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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.
| Measure | Goffstown | Hooksett | Wilder | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
15,057 |
3,087Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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 | $377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below 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 | $6,941 123% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.