Compare towns
Hooksett vs Princeton vs Pelham
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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Princeton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,529Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Pelham 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Pelham 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. |
$520,500±$48k 56% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Princeton 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. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,633 113% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Pelham 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% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Wachusett | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| 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.