Compare towns
Salem vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
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 housing (typical home built 1977).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% 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 | $6,992 5% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.