Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping vs Bedford 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
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Pelham | Epping | Bedford | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
23,746Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Bedford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Bedford School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.