Compare towns
Plaistow vs Pelham vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Plaistow | Pelham | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
14,449 |
15,057Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Atkinson 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Pelham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.