Compare towns
Hooksett vs Salem vs Windham vs Auburn
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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Windham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
30,964Highest |
16,038 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Salem and Auburn 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Salem School District | Windham School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.