Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Upton vs Plaistow
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 renters (24.4% rent).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Upton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
8,189 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Plaistow 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%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 22% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Blackstone Valley | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.