Compare towns
Pelham vs Windham vs Meredith 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Windham | Meredith | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
16,038Highest |
6,758Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Windham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
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| 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.