Compare towns
Hooksett vs Middleborough vs Salem
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 (+10.6%).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Middleborough | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
24,505 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Middleborough 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% |
18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middleborough 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% 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±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Hooksett 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. |
$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Salem 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Middleborough 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Middleborough | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middleborough High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.