Compare towns

Hooksett vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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.

MeasureHooksettDedhamPelham
People
Population
15,057
25,237Highest
14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Dedham 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
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Dedham 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%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
Pelham and Dedham 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.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dedham 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.
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 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
29 min
11% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Dedham Pelham School District
High school in town None in town Dedham High Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
10.4
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.