Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Walpole
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%).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Walpole 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% |
67.4%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% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% 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% |
37.8%±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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.