Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sandown vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Sandown | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,628 |
5,876Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hooksett 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.