Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kennebunk 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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
11,820Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Kennebunk 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above 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±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | RSU 21 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.