Compare towns
Hooksett vs Newfields vs Durham 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 affordable homes ($407k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Durham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,023Lowest |
15,080Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Newfields and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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 NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Durham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.