Compare towns

Pelham vs Dunstable 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%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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.

MeasurePelhamDunstableHooksett
People
Population
14,449
3,408Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2.7Highest
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.4Highest
7% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunstable and Pelham 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%
15%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Dunstable 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.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kLowest
46% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$552,600±$27k
66% above U.S.
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
$1,325±$637Lowest
6% 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
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Lowest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Lowest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Dunstable 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 #4 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH
School district Pelham School District Groton-Dunstable Hooksett School District
High school in town Pelham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
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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.