Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Manchester vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Epping | Manchester | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
115,643Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Epping 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Manchester Memorial High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.