Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Merrimac 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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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.
| Measure | Hooksett | Epping | Merrimac | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430 |
6,748Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Merrimac 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer 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 22% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Pentucket | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.