Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ware vs Dudley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Ware | Dudley | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
10,048Lowest |
11,929 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dudley 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
14.3Highest |
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.