Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Plaistow
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Hooksett | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
5,876Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett 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% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Salem and Plaistow 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 |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Hooksett and Plaistow 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 |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hooksett 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.