Compare towns
Gray 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
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Gray | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% 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 | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 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 | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 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.