Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dedham vs Pelham vs Hampstead
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Dedham | Pelham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
25,237Highest |
14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
| 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% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dedham 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% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hampstead 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% 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. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$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% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
3.8% 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% |
82.1% 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. |
1988Highest 8 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 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% 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% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dedham | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
10.4 |
— |
| 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.