Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Springfield
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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Salem | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
30,964 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Springfield 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. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.