Compare towns
Hooksett vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Keene | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
22,939 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Keene School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
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.