Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Dracut
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
15,057Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dracut 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Dracut 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Dracut 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Salem 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Dracut |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.