Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Saco
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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% |
43.5%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% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Saco 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| 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.