Compare towns
Salem vs Dummerston vs Atkinson 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Dummerston | Atkinson | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
2,090Lowest |
7,267 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson 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 37% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Atkinson 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 |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.