Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Salem vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Derry | Durham | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,080 |
30,964 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% 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 | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Salem School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.