Compare towns
Pelham vs South Hooksett vs Salem vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Pelham | South Hooksett | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449 |
5,902Lowest |
30,964Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 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+ | 40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Pelham and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | — | Salem School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.