Compare towns
Hooksett vs Somersworth vs Epping 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
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | Somersworth | Epping | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
12,111 |
7,430Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Epping 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Somersworth 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%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Epping and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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 NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Somersworth School District | Epping School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Epping High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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.