Compare towns
Pelham vs Sheldon vs Hooksett vs Goffstown
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Goffstown has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
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 | Sheldon | Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
2,267Lowest |
15,057 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% 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. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pelham 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Goffstown 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| 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.