Compare towns
Pelham vs Hooksett vs Exeter
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 kids (22% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hooksett | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.