Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter vs Windham vs Hooksett
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
16,151 |
16,038 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.