Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Manchester 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Hooksett | Hooksett | Manchester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
15,057 |
115,643Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% 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 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.