Compare towns
Salem vs Fall River vs Hooksett vs Pelham
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Fall River | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
94,082Highest |
15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 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% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.