Compare towns

Hanson vs Hooksett 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

Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureHansonHooksettPelham
People
Population
10,660Lowest
15,057Highest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3Highest
10% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Hanson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% 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
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% 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
$1,821±$860Highest
29% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hanson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,402Lowest
105% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5
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
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #149 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Whitman-Hanson Hooksett School District Pelham School District
High school in town Whitman Hanson Regional None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
—
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.