Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Hooksett vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Salem | Hooksett | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
44,795Highest |
15,057 |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Wilton 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Salem | Hooksett School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.