Compare towns
Pelham vs Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Goffstown
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 highest household income ($136k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Hooksett | Hampstead | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
15,057 |
9,102Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Goffstown 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% 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±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| 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.