Compare towns

Hooksett vs Boston 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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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.

MeasureHooksettBostonPelham
People
Population
15,057
666,442Highest
14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
41.5±2.7Highest
7% above U.S.
Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$97,344±$2kLowest
21% 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
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$731,700±$10kHighest
120% above U.S.
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,147±$25Highest
52% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$4,456Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±1.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
15% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±0.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Boston 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 #258 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston Pelham School District
High school in town None in town Boston Latin School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
18.7Highest
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.