Compare towns
Pelham vs Hooksett vs Keene
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
15,057 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.