Compare towns
Hooksett vs Townsend vs Epping 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Epping | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,100 |
7,430Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer 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 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.