Compare towns
Pelham vs South Hooksett vs Plaistow
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%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | South Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
5,902Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Pelham and South 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 |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and South 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.