Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Barnstead | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | 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 |
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.