Compare towns
Hampton vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Pelham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 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+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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 | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.