Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Sandown vs Manchester
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 most expensive homes ($553k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Sandown | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
14,449 |
6,628Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 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% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Pelham and Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Pelham and Sandown 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±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sandown 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% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.