Compare towns
Pelham vs Appleton 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
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Pelham | Appleton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,360Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% 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 | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Appleton Public Schools | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.