Compare towns
Pelham vs Topsham vs Hooksett
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 expensive homes ($553k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Topsham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
9,706Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.