Compare towns
Salem vs Ashby vs Hooksett vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Salem | Ashby | Hooksett | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
3,211Lowest |
15,057 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ashby 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.