Compare towns
Pelham vs Windham vs Orford 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
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Orford | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
16,038Highest |
1,295Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%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 |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest 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% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 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 |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% 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% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%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 |
1971Lowest 8 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 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Windham 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Windham High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.