Compare towns
Rochester vs Hooksett vs Laconia vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Rochester | Hooksett | Laconia | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
15,057Lowest |
17,085 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Laconia and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% 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 | $5,334 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Laconia 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | Laconia School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Laconia High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.