Compare towns
Newton vs Pelham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Newton | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
14,449 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Newton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Newton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.