Compare towns
Pelham vs Jay vs Windham vs Hooksett
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1987).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
471Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.