Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Underhill
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
3,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Salem and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above 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 | $6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Salem 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 | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.