Compare towns
Hooksett vs Dudley vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Dudley | Orange | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
11,929 |
7,573Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Pelham 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% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$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. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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 |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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.