Compare towns
Derry vs Townsend 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
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Derry | Townsend | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,100Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 30% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above 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 | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 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 | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.1 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.