Compare towns
Salem vs Epping vs Methuen 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
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Epping | Methuen | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
7,430Lowest |
53,475Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Methuen 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Epping School District | Methuen | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Epping High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.