Compare towns

Salem vs Hooksett vs Everett vs Derry

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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureSalemHooksettEverettDerry
People
Population
30,964
15,057Lowest
50,045Highest
34,116
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±2.7Highest
15% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
40.3±1.6
4% above U.S.
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%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Everett and Derry 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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$85,218±$7kLowest
6% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
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±$16k
42% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$432,000±$17k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,547±$138Lowest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,992
124% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$4,880Lowest
56% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% 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%
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
Everett and Derry 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%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
16.3%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #30 of 120 in NH #264 of 282 in MA #60 of 120 in NH
School district Salem School District Hooksett School District Everett Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Salem High School None in town Everett High Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
—
12.1
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.