Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Goffstown vs South Hooksett
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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Salem | Goffstown | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
18,513 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and South 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% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Goffstown and South Hooksett 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 |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Salem and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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 NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Goffstown 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Goffstown School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Goffstown High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.