Compare towns
Dunstable 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
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Dunstable | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637Lowest 6% 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 | $9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | 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.