Compare towns
Salem vs Grantham vs Hooksett vs Derry
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 most expensive homes ($473k median).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Grantham | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
3,465Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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 |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| 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±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
— | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| 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 5% above NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
— | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Grantham School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.