Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Sutton vs Pelham
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Sutton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
2,239Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Sutton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Sutton 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±$16k 18% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Sutton 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.