Compare towns
Pelham vs Salisbury 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 expensive homes ($553k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Salisbury | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
1,609Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$111,591±$17kLowest 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above 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 |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Salisbury and Hooksett 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 |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley 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 History | 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.