Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ripton vs Plaistow 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
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Ripton | Plaistow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
508Lowest |
7,861 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Ripton 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.