Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Hampstead vs Barrington
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Pelham | Hampstead | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Hampstead 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% 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±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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±$88 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.