Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping vs Hooksett vs Barrington
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).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,430Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Epping 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| 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 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.