Compare towns
Salem vs Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Salem | Atkinson | Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
7,267Lowest |
15,057 |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.6Highest |
| 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.