Compare towns
Pelham vs Walpole 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
26,388Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Pelham 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% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Walpole 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% |
67.4%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% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.