Compare towns
Pelham vs Hooksett vs Hampton vs Dracut
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).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Hampton | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
15,057 |
16,426 |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 10.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.