Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Amherst
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 renters (24.4% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
15,057 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH 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 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Salem 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.