Compare towns
Hooksett vs Weare vs Pelham vs Hampstead
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).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Weare | Pelham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,170 |
14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Weare and Hampstead 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Pelham and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and Weare 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% 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 |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.