Compare towns
Salem vs Everett 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
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Everett | Methuen | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
50,045 |
53,475Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 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. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% 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. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,061 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% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Everett | Methuen | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Everett High | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
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.