Compare towns

Pelham vs Calais vs Hooksett vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasurePelhamCalaisHooksettWindham
People
Population
14,449
1,713Lowest
15,057
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
42±8.6Highest
8% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Calais and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Calais 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
$100,625±$27kLowest
25% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$390,300±$36kLowest
17% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
$1,408±$392Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Windham 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%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Pelham 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 #48 of 120 in NH — #30 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District Windham School District
High school in town Pelham High School None in town None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
— —
12.8Highest
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.