Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
7,861 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.