Compare towns
Pelham vs Wolfeboro vs Dracut 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 highest household income ($136k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Dracut | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
6,571Lowest |
32,574Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% 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. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dracut 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dracut | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
12.9Highest |
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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.