Compare towns

Hooksett vs Derby 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureHooksettDerbyPelham
People
Population
15,057Highest
4,537Lowest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$80,250±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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±$26k
22% above U.S.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% below U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,096±$118Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
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
110% above U.S.
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Derby 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%
7.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 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
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #52 of 70 in VT #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
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.