Compare towns
Salem vs Attleboro vs Hooksett
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 people working from home (16.3%).
Attleboro has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Attleboro | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
46,762Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.8±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Attleboro and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$98,954±$6kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$448,100±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,590±$83Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$5,366Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Attleboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Attleboro 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 | #185 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Attleboro | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Attleboro High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
15.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.