Compare towns
Merrimack vs Ogunquit vs Pelham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Merrimack | Ogunquit | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
1,379Lowest |
14,449 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 135% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | — | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | — | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.