Compare towns

Hooksett vs Pelham vs Saugus

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 people working from home (22.8%).
Saugus has the most renters (28.5% 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.

MeasureHooksettPelhamSaugus
People
Population
15,057
14,449Lowest
28,773Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
Saugus 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%
15.2%±2Lowest
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%
22%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
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%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$101,539±$3kLowest
26% 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±$27k
66% above U.S.
$603,400±$13kHighest
81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$6,049Lowest
94% 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%
53%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Saugus 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH #194 of 282 in MA
School district Hooksett School District Pelham School District Saugus
High school in town None in town Pelham High School Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
15.5Highest
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.