Compare towns
Gorham 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
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Gorham | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,300 |
15,057Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Salem and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 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 | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.