Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% 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 | $508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.