Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Allenstown 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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.
| Measure | Hooksett | Chester | Allenstown | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300 |
4,743Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Chester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Chester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,281±$397Lowest 14% below 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 | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Allenstown School District | 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 Our Story | 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.