Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Epping vs Windham
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Epping | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
15,057 |
7,430Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Epping 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Windham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Epping High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.