Compare towns
Hooksett vs Randolph vs Williston 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
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Randolph | Williston | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,843Lowest |
10,144 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Williston 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% 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. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Hooksett 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. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Williston 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.