Compare towns
Derry vs Wilder vs Salem vs Hooksett
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Wilder | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
3,087Lowest |
30,964 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Salem School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.