Compare towns
Hudson vs Unity 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
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Unity | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
1,375Lowest |
15,057 |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$87,500±$16kLowest 12% below 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 |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 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 |
$5,394Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Unity School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.