Compare towns
Salem vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Hudson
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 expensive homes ($473k median).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Derry | Hooksett | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
34,116Highest |
15,057Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% 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 |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Salem 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest 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% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson 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 |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
| Hudson 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±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Hudson and Hooksett 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 |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%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 |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% 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% |
19.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| 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.