Compare towns
Pelham vs Exeter vs Methuen 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 highest household income ($136k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Exeter | Methuen | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
16,151 |
53,475Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 68% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Methuen 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Methuen | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Exeter High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.