Compare towns

Hooksett vs Worcester vs Westminster 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureHooksettWorcesterWestminsterPelham
People
Population
15,057Highest
831
497Lowest
14,449
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Worcester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Westminster 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster and Worcester 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
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
$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.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$749±$315Lowest
47% 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.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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
29 min
9% above U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Westminster 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 — #53 of 70 in VT #48 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Pelham School District
High school in town None in town None in town — Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.4
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.