Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Pembroke vs Hampstead
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%).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Pembroke | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
14,449 |
7,438Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest 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% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| 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±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Pembroke School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.