Compare towns
Windham vs Hooksett vs Ashby vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Windham | Hooksett | Ashby | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
15,057 |
3,211Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.