Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hudson 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 (+10.6%).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Hudson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
25,557 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson and Salem 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Alvirne High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
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.