Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Reading
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).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Reading and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Reading 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.