Compare towns
Pelham vs Hooksett vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
15,057Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Pelham and Wolfeboro 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Pelham 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.