Compare towns
Ashby vs Hooksett vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Ashby | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Salem 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.