Compare towns
Pelham vs Jay vs Hooksett vs Barrington
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 most expensive homes ($553k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
471Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.