Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lee vs Pelham vs Plaistow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Lee | Pelham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,576Lowest |
14,449 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Lee 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%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plaistow 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Pelham and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.