Compare towns
Hooksett vs Epping vs Randolph 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
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 57.5).
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 | Randolph | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
7,430 |
420Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | +10.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
57.5±10.9Highest 33% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Randolph 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±6.5Lowest 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%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±3.7 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 |
$101,750±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$57kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,667±$215 12% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Randolph 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 |
$4,269Lowest 36% 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%±53.1 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% |
6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.3% 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 |
1963Lowest 16 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 |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.5%±5.3 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.