Compare towns
Pelham vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Derry | Hooksett | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 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 | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% 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 | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.