Compare towns
Pelham vs Wolfeboro 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 kids (22% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
6,571Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| 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 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 4% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| 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 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.