Compare towns
Hooksett vs Cornwall vs Pelham vs Plaistow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Cornwall | Pelham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,208Lowest |
14,449 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.