Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Pelham vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
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 | South Hooksett | Pelham | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
14,449Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
| Pelham and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Pelham School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Pelham High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.