Compare towns
Pelham vs Wareham vs Hooksett vs Barrington
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).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Hooksett | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
23,302Highest |
15,057 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% 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. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,504±$180 6% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Hooksett 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. |
$4,341Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Barrington 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Wareham | Hooksett School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.