Compare towns
Pelham vs Newton vs Windham 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Newton | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
4,836Lowest |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Newton 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,124 22% 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% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Newton 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Sanborn Regional 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.