Compare towns
Pelham vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
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 | Waltham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
452Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hooksett 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% 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. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Waltham 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.