Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lyndeborough vs Salem vs Pelham
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Salem | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
1,616Lowest |
30,964Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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±$26k about the NH average |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Salem School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.