Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Wayne 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
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Hooksett | Wayne | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057Highest |
1,101Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% 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 | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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 | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest 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% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Pelham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 38 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.