Compare towns
Hudson vs Durham vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hudson | Durham | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
10,681Lowest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | — | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | — | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 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.