Compare towns
Hooksett vs Milton vs Acton 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).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Milton | Acton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,587Highest |
24,155 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Acton 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Acton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281 4% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton 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. |
$9,677 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Acton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Milton | Acton-Boxborough | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.