Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Stoddard
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% 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 | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school 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 |
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.