Compare towns
Pelham vs Stratham vs Amherst 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
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Stratham | Amherst | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
7,754Lowest |
11,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.