Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pelham vs Ware vs Hampstead
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Ware | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
14,449 |
10,048 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Ware 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%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% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% 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% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% 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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Ware | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.