Compare towns

Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Salem vs Sidney

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 the highest household income ($118k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Sidney has the most homeowners (89.4%).

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.

MeasureHooksettMapletonSalemSidney
People
Population
15,057
1,884Lowest
30,964Highest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Highest
15% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Salem and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Salem and Sidney 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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
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
22% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
$2,474
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Salem and Sidney 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 #15 of 133 in ME
School district Hooksett School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Salem School District RSU 18
High school in town None in town None in town Salem High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
—
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.