Compare towns
Hooksett vs Whitingham vs Reading 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).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Whitingham | Reading | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,368 |
699Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Reading and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Reading 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 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. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% 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. |
$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Reading 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.