Compare towns
Halifax vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Halifax | Hooksett | Pelham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 28% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.