Compare towns
Hampstead vs Conway vs Pelham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Conway | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
10,141 |
14,449 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Conway and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Conway School District | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennett High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.