Compare towns
Pelham vs Lyme vs Hooksett
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Lyme | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,710Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Pelham 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Pelham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 |
| School district | Pelham School District | Lyme School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.