Compare towns
Salem vs Eliot 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).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Eliot | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
7,146Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hooksett 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.