Compare towns
Salem vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Derry | Hooksett | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
21,339 |
15,057Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 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+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Hooksett School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.