Compare towns
Pelham vs Hampstead vs Manchester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Pelham 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 |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.