Compare towns
Hanover vs Hooksett vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hooksett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Lowest |
15,057 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.